Art and Design (Graphics)

Course summary

Graphic Design represents the commercial side of art and design, in which communication is as important as aesthetic effect. Studying Graphic Design allows you to explore the broader world of art, creating images with originality but also purpose, using a wide range of graphic techniques to create illustrations, advertising, and packaging. Students have the opportunity to experiment with a vast array of approaches including drawing, painting, typography, collage, printmaking, and photography. Concepts and observations can be developed and refined to communicate clearly and powerfully. Imaginative and self-motivated work is encouraged to build up a portfolio of coursework. There are regular tutorials and assessments and each student can explore his or her enthusiasms and interests. Students will be given ‘client briefs’ to work with, and these could involve designing posters, book covers, advertisements, CD designs, magazine illustrations, and leaflets. They are encouraged to study a wide range of artists and designers from the past and present, researching and developing their ideas, and experimenting with both traditional and contemporary media and processes to create a style of their own. The Lower Sixth year is run as a foundation year in which students are introduced to the fundamentals of Graphic Design, and learn to acquire a broad knowledge of techniques and approaches which will help them confidently execute their graphic designs and ideas in their examined work later in the course. The College runs internal end-of-year exams in the summer term. In the Upper Sixth students will have the opportunity to work on a project of their own choice as well as a brief provided by the examining board, allowing them to develop their graphic creativity and then to apply these skills to a given project. In recent years briefs have included producing work to advertise a jazz festival and designing the label for a wine bottle.