National 5 Graphic Communication

Graphic Communication in all its forms is vital to society. It is a means of getting across information visually using graphics. Graphic communication comes in many forms and various aspects of life including education, industry and commerce.

This course is designed to increase your awareness of how graphics are used, and to learn about the technology used to create them. You will create 2D, 3D and pictorial graphics with visual impact or that transmits information, digitally and on paper.

The skills you learn in this course are useful in many career areas including Architecture, Surveying, Engineering or Design and Marketing.

The course introduces students to the wide variety of graphics used in industry and commerce. Preliminary Graphics covers freehand sketching and rendering and the basics of graphic design; Production graphics introduces and develops skills in 3D CAD modelling and producing sets of drawings from the model including orthographics, sections and isometrics and; Promotional Graphics covers most aspects of Graphic Design including the elements and principles of successful design and how to use a variety of desktop publishing softwares.  

Students undertake modular work in the form of ‘mini-folios’ over the course of the year, each focussing on different skills sets and practices.

The grade for National 5 Graphic Communication is made up of two components:

Assignment 30% - An eight hour folio, undertaken in exam conditions but in class time. Students are presented with a series of previously unseen tasks that they have to produce a graphical response to. This is externally marked.

Question Paper 70% - A two hour written exam which tests the students graphical theory and knowledge which has been delivered via the students theory periods over the course of the year.