Digital Media & Design

The deadlines above have been changed to reflect realistic marking time. With Component 2, I have a short window in which to provide feedback in readiness for Easter, as the practical exam (by which all of your work will be locked) starts the day after you are back.

Deadlines have been set to allow me to mark and feedback, allowing time for you to make corrections, etc. The absolute deadline for all work is the 30 April 2025, which is the day we need to send all of your work off to CAIE for marking. Work not ready by the morning may not get sent off in time to the exam board.

Subject overview

The Google site is designed to give you access to a variety of resources to support your studies in CAIE's Digital Media and Design (9481). It is dynamic and, therefore, changing on a regular basis.  Video resources are generally YouTube (to enable cross-platform viewing) with links to playlists that are updated on a regular basis. 

YouTube link: http://www.YouTube.com/@DigitalMediaandDesign (your curated work)

For success:

1. Think of a Recipe: No chef will pile in with ingredients without first having experimented. They will look at ideas for what is popular, their contemporaries, etc. They know how much salt to add, what type of flower, baking time, etc. This comes from hours of trial and error. Finding the right ingredients, then testing what works before bringing it all together. You need to do the same. Use your contemporaries for inspiration and then do your own thing, don't copy.

2. Think Outside the Artist Box: Instead of just focusing on a few photographers or artists, try studying scenes from movies, interesting documentaries, even the way music creates a mood. Anything can inspire you as long as it's related to your project's theme.

3. Ask Why It Works: After looking at all this cool research, think deeply about how the stuff you find works. How does the movie director use color to make you feel a certain way? How does the music build tension? Write down what you notice and explain how you could use similar ideas in your own project.

4. Don't Just Do, Reflect:  When you experiment with techniques,  software, or materials, don't just try random things.  Ask yourself: Does this help me achieve what I want? What did I learn from this? Should I keep doing this, or try something different? Write down your answers!

5. Did You Do What You Set Out To Do? Throughout your project, keep your original intention in mind. Think about if you're getting closer to what you envisioned, or if you've changed direction a bit. Explain why any changes happened and if they are for the better!

6. Be Critical: Just because an established artist has done something, doesn't mean it's right or a standard. Be critical when reviewing and find the good and bad (if there is any) when analysing both artists and your own work. Does it achieve its purpose? Could it be improved? What doesn't work?

Extra Tips:

• Keep your presentation simple. Think of it like a really well-organised slide show. The examiners should be able to see your entire creative process at a glance.

• Focus on telling your story! All the technical stuff matters, but only as far as it helps you visually communicate your ideas and show what you've learned.

Key Videos

Useful videos so relevant, they feature here and not in the video library