Art and Design N5

Vale of Leven Academy

The course integrates investigative and practical learning, and knowledge and understanding of art and design practice. In the course, candidates draw upon their understanding of artists’ and designers’ work and practice. They follow art and design processes to develop their own creative work. They also reflect on and evaluate their creative processes and the qualities of their expressive and design portfolios. The course comprises two areas of study:

Expressive This part of the course helps candidates plan, research and develop creative expressive work in response to a theme/stimulus. Candidates develop knowledge and understanding of artists’ working practices and the social, cultural and other influences affecting their work and practice. They select a theme/stimulus and produce 2D/3D analytical drawings, studies and investigative research, and use this to produce a single line of development leading to a final piece. Candidates reflect on and evaluate their creative process and the visual qualities of their work.

Design This part of the course helps candidates plan, research and develop creative design work in response to a design brief. Candidates develop knowledge and understanding of designers’ working practices and the social, cultural and other influences affecting their work and practice. They select a design brief and compile a variety of 2D/3D investigative material and market research, and use this to produce a single line of development leading to a design solution. Candidates reflect on and evaluate their creative process and the aesthetic and functional qualities of their work.

Skills, knowledge and understanding for the course The following provides a broad overview of the subject skills, knowledge and understanding developed in the course:

• producing analytical drawings and related investigative studies in response to stimuli
• using visual elements expressively, showing a clear understanding of the subject matter
• producing focused investigative visual and market research for a design activity
• skills in using a range of art and design materials, techniques and/or technology creatively
• developing and refining a variety of creative ideas for art and design work in 2D and/or 3D formats
• describing how artists and designers use materials, techniques and/or technology in their work
• analysing the impact of social, cultural and other influences on artists’ and designers’ work and practice
• using problem-solving, planning and self-evaluation skills within the creative process Skills, knowledge and understanding for the course assessment

The following provides details of skills, knowledge and understanding sampled in the course assessment:

Question paper The question paper assesses the candidate’s ability to:

• respond to unseen prompts and images
• demonstrate knowledge of the work of significant artists and designers from any time period
• comment on the work of artists and designers
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of social, cultural and/or other influences on artists’ and designers’ work and practice (see list below)
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of expressive art and design elements, using appropriate art and design vocabulary The external influences on artists’ and designers’ work are wide-ranging. The term ‘social and cultural influences’ can be interpreted widely, and includes (but is not limited to):
• living conditions, including economic conditions
• influence of family and community
• influence of other artists/art movements
• exposure to different cultures
• physical environment/geography
• new and emerging technology Version 2.0 5
• politics
• gender
• religion/belief
• national/world events
• developments in other fields, eg science, literature
• personal circumstances
• health and wellbeing

Expressive portfolio The expressive portfolio assesses the candidate’s ability to:

• produce relevant investigative research appropriate to an agreed theme/stimulus
• produce a single line of development showing visual continuity with the investigative research
• demonstrate the refinement and realisation of the single line of development, leading to a final piece
• use a selection of materials, techniques and/or technology
• use the visual elements and expressive effects in response to the agreed theme/stimulus
• express justified personal opinions on their decisions and the effectiveness of the expressive qualities of their portfolio

Design portfolio The design portfolio assesses the candidate’s ability to:

• produce and compile investigative material and market research appropriate to the agreed design brief/design area
• produce a single line of development showing visual continuity with the investigative material and market research
• demonstrate the refinement and realisation of the single line of development, leading to a design solution
• use a selection of materials, techniques and/or technology for creative effect
• demonstrate understanding of design elements in response to the agreed design brief requirements
• express justified personal opinions on their decisions and the effectiveness of the design qualities of their portfolio

The course assessment meets the key purposes and aims of the course by addressing:

• breadth — drawing on knowledge and skills from across the course
• challenge — requiring greater depth or extension of knowledge and/or skills
• application — requiring application of knowledge and/or skills in practical or theoretical contexts as appropriate This enables candidates to:
• demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of art and design practice in an extended-response format in a question paper
• produce a portfolio of expressive art work showing a selection of relevant 2D/3D analytical drawings, studies and investigative research, and the development of one idea leading to an expressive final piece
• produce a portfolio of design work showing a selection of relevant 2D/3D investigative material and market research, and the development of one idea leading to a design solution

Question paper 50 marks

The purpose of the question paper is to assess candidates’ knowledge and understanding of art and design practice and issues. The questions are designed to test candidates’ ability to:

• comment on art and design work and critically respond to unseen prompts and images
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of social, cultural and/or other influences on artists’ and designers’ work and practice
• give justified opinions on identified aspects of art and design practice and issues

The question paper has 50 marks (20% of the total mark) and has two sections which are equally weighted.

Expressive portfolio 100 marks

The purpose of this portfolio is to assess candidates’ ability to integrate and apply practical art skills and their knowledge and understanding of art practice across the course. Throughout the portfolio, candidates have the opportunity to demonstrate skills, knowledge and understanding by:

• responding to their agreed theme/stimulus by producing relevant 2D/3D analytical drawings, studies and investigative research, and using this to produce a single line of development leading to a final piece
• using a selection of materials, techniques and/or technology, visual elements and expressive effects
• reflecting on and evaluating their creative process and the visual qualities of their portfolio with reference to their theme/stimulus

The expressive portfolio has 100 marks (40% of the total mark).

Design portfolio 100 marks

The purpose of this portfolio is to assess candidates’ ability to integrate and apply practical design skills and their knowledge and understanding of design practice across the course. Throughout the portfolio, candidates have the opportunity to demonstrate skills, knowledge and understanding by:

• responding to their design brief, producing and compiling a variety of relevant 2D/3D investigative material and market research, and using this to produce a single line of development leading to a design solution
• using a selection of materials, techniques and/or technology, and demonstrating their understanding of design elements
• reflecting on and evaluating their creative process and the aesthetic and functional qualities of their design portfolio with reference to their design brief requirements

The design portfolio has 100 marks (40% of the total mark).