AQA GCSE

Graphic Communication

Key Contact: Mrs Panayioutou

CAREER OPTIONS

Exhibition Design, Packaging Design, Marketing, Branding, Advertising, Animator, Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Print Maker, Production Design for TV, Film and Theatre.

Graphics is intended for students who are interested in Graphic communication in advertising, illustration and in the promotion of ideas, information and new images.

The course will involve working to a design brief, identifying and exploring problems, planning courses of action, using appropriate equipment and materials, designing and working in a variety of media including computer graphics.

Areas of study will include:

Advertising
Illustration
Computer aided design
Packaging
Typography

Students will gain the necessary skills to continue their artistic development at further or higher education level. The course offers a broad skills base including design, creative ICT applications, Photoshop and use of mixed Media which equips students to go on to Graphics courses.

Assessment throughout the two-year course is by:

Component 1: Coursework Portfolio

96 marks

60% of GCSE

A series of sustained projects developed in response to a subject, theme, task or brief and selection of further work from the course.

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment

96 marks

40% of GCSE

The exam board will provide a separate externally set assignment for each title, each with seven different starting points. Students must select and respond to one starting point from their chosen title.

Marks are awarded across four key areas for both units:

AO1: Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.

AO2: Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.

AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.

AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.

Students are actively encouraged to work independently on their projects both at home and by attending the after school sessions.

You may be surprised to know that the creative industries generate a massive £92 billion for the UK economy and employ over 2 million people, with 3.04 million jobs in the wider creative economy.

Employment in the UK creative industries is growing at four times the rate of the UK workforce as a whole, according to latest official statistics from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.