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Graphic Communication

Overview

Graphic design is about communicating ideas and information through graphic imagery involving visual and textual content. You will be encouraged to develop individual solutions to design briefs in both traditional and digital media. Areas of study include advertising, packaging design, design for print, illustration and communication graphics.

Entry Requirements

You must have at least a grade 5 or C GCSE in an Art and Design subject. Students without this will be invited to attend a portfolio interview in order to identify the most appropriate area of study.

AQA

Learning & Assessment

Modules / Topics

You will produce practical and critical/contextual work in one or more areas of study, for example, advertising, packaging design, design for print, illustration, communication graphics and branding.

 

Component 1 (Personal investigation)

You will develop work for a personal investigation into an idea, issue, concept or theme supported by written material of 1000-3000 words.

 

Component 2 (Externally set assignment - 15 hours supervised time)

You will produce personal work in response to one of eight exciting starting points.

Trips / Visits / Enrichment

Students will visit galleries and exhibitions and art studios. Previous students have also exhibited their own work. Past students heard from Tyneside Cinema Marketing team and a local graphic design agency.

Assessment

All Art and Design subjects are coursework only. This means that every task counts towards the final grade at A Level. You will develop creative ideas and broaden your horizons in a variety of ways, including, library, exhibition and internet research and experimentation using different media. Work will be lecturer and peer assessed in events such as critique sessions. All students will engage in analytical thinking and writing and documentation of projects.

100 Ideas that changed Graphic Design, Heller and Vienne, (2012)

The Graphic Language of Neville Brody, (1988)

Just My Type, Simon Garfield, (2010)

You could progress to a Diploma in Foundation Studies in Art and Design, a Foundation Degree, Higher National Diploma or BA Honours Degree. Studying a Graphics related degree at university can give you all sorts of exciting career options, including graphic communication roles such as free-lance graphic design, illustration, typography, packaging design, games design, animation, web/app design, film/tv graphics, motion graphics, interactive design, exhibition design, interior/spatial design, production design, or scientific/medical illustration. It could also lead to roles in advertising, marketing, publishing, studio management, art directing or teaching.

Think Graphic Communication is right for you?

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