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Graphic Communication is a two year linear A Level, which encourages students to research and specialise in a broad range of design disciplines including Illustration, Brand Identity, Games Design, Product Design, Information Graphics, Museum and Exhibition Design, Motion Graphics such as Film Making or Animation, Architecture, Advertising, Social Media Support Services and Stage and Set Design.
WHY STUDY GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION?
WHY STUDY GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION?
Graphic Communication is a design course for all those interested in pursuing a career in the creative industries, which contributed 145.8 billion to the UK economy in 2026 alone (GOV.UK). From Illustration, game design, architecture, product design, brand identity, animation and motion graphics, to stage set, vehicle and costume design.
Graphic Communication opens endless potential avenues.
The course examines the basics of design, including design problem solving, allowing each student to select and investigate their own specific areas of interest. This allows students to develop and create professional quality work that will take them on to the next stage of their education, apprenticeship or career.
CONTACT US
CONTACT US
Your course will be taught by Chloe Clifford and Vicky Snowball. If you would like to ask questions or need further information about the Graphic Communication A Level please feel free to email either of us.
Chloe Clifford (cclifford@g.qeliz.ac.uk)
Vicky Snowball (vsnowball@g.qeliz.ac.uk)
How is it taught?
How is it taught?
Our staff come with real professional experience of working in the creative sectors and base classes around practical demonstrations, projects, advice and support. Students are encouraged to specialise and develop their skills and creative thinking. Individual project work is supported and assessed in a continual series of lessons and tutorials.
The classrooms are fully equipped with iMacs and the full Adobe Creative Suite of software, which everyone will become familiar with in the HE and work environment. The course encourages students to strive for a professional level of creative output in their chosen area. We also support and develop each individual student’s use of the creative sector’s standard terminology so they can easily progress onto their chosen path.
Course Structure
Course Structure
WJEC Eduqas A level Art and Design (Graphic Communication) A654QS
We begin with a series of mini briefs, with skills embedded across a range of digital and hand rendered techniques while exploring different areas of graphic design. This is so you can discover your strengths and preferred style of working. It's a great opportunity to take risks before deciding what your specialist areas of interest might be.
Component 1 - Personal Investigation (60% of A Level)
This project is an in depth study into a specific area of design which interests you, and could potentially help you with applications after your A Level, as you apply for Degree level study, apprenticeships or directly into employment. As part of this project you will be expected to generate ideas based on your chosen brief, explore relevant techniques and creative making which is then refined towards focused client options. The final piece then needs to contextualised in a real world setting. This project includes a piece of written work of 1000 to 3000 words which supports the practical work.
Component 2- Externally Set Assignment (40% of A Level)
Students respond to a stimulus issued by Eduqas and a body of work is produced on one of the visual or written briefs. You will be expected to research, create artwork exploring creative process, refine and develop a series of client options before arriving at the final piece. The finished outcome or series of outcomes are created during a 15 hour period of supervised time.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The Graphic Communication course is available to students who have obtained a grade 4 in GCSE English Language or Literature as well as having an interest in design or illustration. It is advisable to have studied a creative subject at GCSE, i.e. Graphic Design, Art & Design, D&T or Media; if so grade 4 or above is required.
Students wishing to study Graphic Communication who do not have an art based GCSE will still be considered on submission of a small digital portfolio of design or illustration work. Skill in drawing or painting is not essential, but it will help.
GCSE grade 5 in an art based subject is a minimum requirement if you want to take two or more art and design subjects. Anyone wishing to study more than one art subject will need to speak to a member of the art department during the enrolment process.
STUDENT WORK
STUDENT WORK
Student Packaging Design
Variants on Package Design
Stencil illustration
Digital illustration
Student work based on research gathered on a college trip to New York.
Student work created in 3D paper cut and construct, based on research trip to Whitby
Student project investigating 'painting with light'
Fineliner and Digital Illustration
Crosshatching & Monoprint Illustrations
Packaging Design Project
Music Packaging & Promotion Graphics
Selection of illustrated stamps
Biro & Watercolour Illustration Project
Character design for Concept Art
Event Promotion
Collage
Branding Ice Cream
Whitby Information Graphic Map
Album Promotion
Typography
Finer liner & Watercolour
Triangulation
Cell Drawing
Book Illustration
Character Design For Fantasy Game
Studio FACILITIES
Studio FACILITIES
Graphic Communication Studio
The Graphic Communication Studio is equipped with iMacs and the full Adobe Create Suite of software programs, these are the industry standard 'set ups' which you will find in most creative working environments and universities teaching creative subjects. We also have lightpads to assisit with drawing images, iPads to allow for on screen digital painting etc. and we can add specific Apps or software programs that students find useful in their specific area of study. Most students like to have their own specialist drawing equipment which they find most helpful to them in the studio environment on a day to day basis.
Extra Curricular Opportunities
Extra Curricular Opportunities
We offer a broad range of extra curricular activities to enrich your learning experiences, including; local, UK and overseas trips, workshops, gallery visits, student exhibitions and work experience.
Whitby
Redcar
South Gare
Middlesbrough
Durham
Newcastle
York
Manchester
Leeds
London
Edinburgh
Local & UK Trips
Local & UK Trips
It's important that photography students experience working in different environments and settings to gain practical experience, but also to put theory into practice and document their journey. Every year we offer an international Art trip (please see the 'Overseas Trips' page) but in photography we also visit a variety of locations including:
Careers in Art and Design
Careers in Art and Design
The Creative Industries have been one of the major growth sectors of the economy in the last decade, with new career potential still developing each year. In terms of employment and its contribution to the economy, we encourage our students to view our course as the first step in to an exciting and fulfilling career in the creative sector.
Many universities actively seek to recruit from our A Level Graphic Communication course. Previous students haven chosen to progress onto our Foundation Art and Design Course and others have applied to their HE course directly after being interviewed with portfolio of work created during the A Level.
EX QE student profile
EX QE student profile
MILLION, LIZ - Ex Student Profile.pdfWIGLEY, TEIGHLOR - Ex Student Profile.pdfGraphic Communication Game
Graphic Communication Game
Do Try This At Home!
Do Try This At Home!
Great communication skills are an essential part of a designer's toolbox.
Student's experiments with paper engineering.
Student Work on Covers for animated 'Flip Books' phone footage derived from College trip to New York
Student work on Typographical Experiments
Know Your Logos? - Game
Know Your Logos? - Game
Number a sheet of paper 1 to 20. Set the timer on your phone for 5 minutes. When you click on the link below titled Logo Game you will be shown 'pieces' of twenty famous logos, try and name them all before the timer runs out.
You can check your answers afterwards by clicking the Logo Solution link.
The Broader View of Graphic Communication
The Broader View of Graphic Communication
Graphic Communication covers a wide range of Design Diciplines everything from Illustration, Brand Identity, Games Design, Product Design, Information Graphics, Museum and Exhibition Design, Motion Graphics such as Film Making or Animation, Architecture, Advertising, Social Media Support Services and Stage and Set Design.
Here we have provided some links to exciting and innovative collections of design and illustration, there are also links to YouTube videos which will help to familiarise you with some famous illustrators and designers from the past, people who's work you should become familiar with if you are an aspiring designer.
Hope you enjoy them!
Links to Creative Catalogue Sites
https://www.creativebloq.com/ https://www.thisiscolossal.com/
https://www.shillingtoneducation.com/uk/ https://artsandculture.google.com/
https://www.demilked.com https://thedieline.com/
https://www.logodesignlove.com/
https://www.designweek.co.uk/ https://www.creativereview.co.uk/
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