Entry requirements
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- Six GCSEs 9-4 (or A*-C)
- Two from English, Maths OR Science
- Two at least grade 6
Course specific requirements: GCSE grade 9-4 in any Art-based subject OR portfolio of work if no GCSE Art OR BTEC First at D/M with a portfolio of work
Graphics
- Are you captivated by design?
- Do you love to create and express yourself visually?
- Ever wondered how you can make a poster or piece of merchandise that would stand out from all the rest?
A Level Graphic Communication projects are devised to help students understand the fundamental process of design and gain a solid knowledge of all phases of the graphic communication processes, starting with research and thumbnails through to developing and refining designs to exciting and experimental outcomes. You will be encouraged to consider the design process and think about the cultural, historical and technological influences that have shaped design and how this impacts your audience and influences your design.
Exam board: OCR
Portfolio Guidance
- A small body of work that demonstrates your skills and interests.
- Images by artists, designers, photographers or craft makers that inspire you.
- Up to 10 practical responses. These could be drawings, photographs, samples or maquettes and should be appropriate to the course you wish to study.
- The portfolio should be brought with you to enrolment at the end of August/early September after you have completed your GCSEs and received your results. Not before then, as final decisions about enrolments will not be made until after GCSE results have been released.
- Please send any enquiries to the subject email: [email protected]
Components
COMPONENT 1: PERSONAL INVESTIGATION. (60% OF A LEVEL)
Learners should produce two elements:
A portfolio of practical work showing their personal response to either a starting point, brief, scenario or stimulus, devised and provided by the learner or centre.
A related study: an extended response of a guided minimum of 1000 words.
COMPONENT 2: EXTERNALLY SET TASK (40% OF A LEVEL)
The exam paper will be issued on 1st February and will provide learners with a number of themes, each with a range of written and visual starting points, briefs and stimuli. A response should be based on one of these options.
Skills
You will explore a range of materials and techniques including digital manipulation on the Adobe package: Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, photography, typography, illustration, layout, printing and packaging. You will develop your critical thinking when looking at the works of artist and illustrators as well as develop your skills of analysis in written form.
Careers/Destinations
This subject is for students who are interested in careers in graphics, graphic communication, typography, web design, app design, animation and illustration and other related subjects such as advertising, marketing, publishing and editorial careers as well as engineering, architecture and product design.