Graphic Design

Students are given a wide range of design briefs to work from in the early stages of the course to develop their understanding of graphic design. They learn how to work through the full design process leading to successfully presenting final outcomes within commercial settings. These initial experiences of working across design briefs supports students with creating their own project briefs as they begin their two A level components.

Students will be required to demonstrate skills in all of the following:

• Understanding of art elements and design principles in relation to each design brief.
• Awareness of intended audience and client requirements when working within a project brief.
• Ability to respond to an issue, concept or idea, working to a brief within a chosen areas of graphic communication.
• Understanding of brand identity, brand assets and typography to inform their own ideas.
• Ability to work to a personalised design brief, communicating intentions within digital and physical portfolios.
• Understanding of a variety of materials and genres appropriate to their chosen area(s) of graphic design.

In A Level Graphic Design, students are assessed through two components that focus on both practical skills and creative development, allowing them to explore and refine their capabilities, creating their own personalised design briefs. These components are as follows:

• Component 1 (60% of final mark): Students develop their own personal design brief on an idea, issue, concept or theme leading to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes. Practical elements make connections with some aspect of contemporary or past practice of artist(s), designer(s), photographers or craftspeople and include written work of 1000 to 3000 words.
• Component 2 Externally set task (40% of final mark): Students respond to a stimulus, provided by AQA, to produce work which provides evidence of their ability to work independently within specified time constraints, developing a personal and meaningful response which addresses all the assessment objectives and leads to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes.

Together, these components provide students with the opportunity to showcase both their technical proficiency and creative problem-solving skills in the field of graphic design.