Design & Technology - graphic product focus

During Cohort 9 you will learn about the subject and gain the necessary skills through a range of design and make projects using paper based materials and decorative techniques to develop your knowledge and understanding.

You will learn about a variety of materials and processes including smart materials, CAD/CAM and image processing with programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. You will design and make models of your products using a range of equipment and understand how to be innovative and problem solve.

Our GCSE course allows learners to study core technical and designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials techniques and equipment. You will also have the opportunity to study specialist technical principles focusing on Paper & Board in greater depth.

We will recommend a textbook/revision guide to assist with this.  The course is heavily weighted towards those skills associated with designing, creativity, originality, flair and imagination.

In Cohorts 9 and 10 you will complete projects in both 2 and 3 dimensions, for example a creative  packaging project looking at perfume and game packaging design, re-branding and marketing Colchester Zoo using the laser cutter, a Festival marketing project that incorporates T-shirt graphic design and promotional keyrings as well as a variety of 3D printed stand alone projects and professional design programs to realise ideas and outcomes.

In Cohorts 10 and 11 you will work on your non-examination assessment task and begin revision for your exam.

The course offered in Graphic Products is open to all learners who have a keen interest and passion for designing and making projects using the materials and equipment detailed above.

Over the duration of the course, you will develop basic skills so that you are able to complete your major projects, to the highest possible standard.

This course is aimed at anyone who is interested in graphic products. If you enjoy being creative, designing and working with materials and media this is the course for you.

Here at Honywood we follow the AQA examination course.  During Cohorts 9 and 10, attention is given to learning and developing skills via a variety of smaller projects using different materials / resources. Alongside this, learners will also be shown how to set out their design folder and given techniques to best prepare them for the exam at the end of Cohort 11.

During Cohort 11 you will begin completing the non-examination assessment task.

There will be a 50/50 split between exam and non-examination assessment (NEA)

You can go on to study for A-Levels in Graphic Design, Art Design and Media, Digital Applications, Media Print Publishing, Photography or Product Design.

A range of apprenticeships are also available.

This could lead on to a degree and career in a variety of areas such as product design, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, computer design, furniture design, jewellery design or architecture.

Mrs Howard, Subject Leader (choward@honywoodschool.com)