A Level Art & Design: Illustration & Graphics
Do you possess a lively, enquiring mind? Do you enjoy developing your ideas through drawing and utilising a range of processes towards a final project? During this course, you will learn to develop design solutions, exploring the power of visual communication as an invaluable commercial tool.
TOP COURSE HIGHLIGHTS
- Industry-standard software
- Portfolio preparation
- Specialist lecturers
- Small class sizes
- Excellent facilities
Traditional and Contemporary
Explore a mix of traditional and contemporary processes; these are structured to encourage personal confidence in your own preferences and interests.
Develop Specialist Skills
Refine ways of working which suit your individual interests, acquiring and developing specialist skills in your chosen discipline.
Communicate Ideas
Develop skills in communicating ideas visually; initially to set briefs and then to personally negotiated design briefs.
WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
The course is structured to support and develop your confidence and individual strengths, from illustrative and traditional studio-based skills through to more graphics and digitally based practice, allowing for a broad and creative approach to design. The start of the course involves a series of workshops covering traditional skills such as experimental drawing through to digital skills using software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and I\r\nDesign. These workshops allow you to develop and bank a broad range of varied skills to draw upon as the course progresses and you begin your individual responses to a brief.
Independent work is fundamental to the course; at least 50% of all work assessed should have happened outside the classroom, so be prepared to immerse yourself in this creatively varied subject. You will be encouraged to reflect, analyse, and critically evaluate your own work and that of other artists past and present and openly discuss in lessons.
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
You will begin the course with a range of varied and challenging workshops developing fundamental skills and knowledge integral to the world of Illustration and Design. Workshops include experimental drawing and playful image making for students who wish to take the more traditional approach; digital workshops offer all students access to develop skills in industry standard software including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and I
Design. Other aspects you will explore include typography, thumbnail sketches, layout design, and mixed media, extending these further through digital media.
The research and development of your concepts and designs are gathered in your sketchbook. Documenting and constantly reflecting on your creative development, you will become skilled in communicating ideas visually, to meet your clients’ needs. By the end of the first year, you will have produced a body of work which documents your creative thinking and design process.
WHERE WILL IT TAKE ME?
Employment as a graphic designer is the clearest route but this course also offers a way into illustration or, with further study, animation; you could work in the media, an advertising company or design agency. You can progress directly from A Level to an arts degree such as Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Illustration, Games Design and Multi-Media Design.
Component 1: Personal Investigation
Internally Assessed 60% of A Level
The Personal Investigation consists of a major in-depth, practical, critical and theoretical investigative project/theme-based portfolio. Learners will be required to carry out an extended critical and contextual analysis (1000 word minimum requirement).
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment
Internally Assessed 40% of A Level
Learners will be required to independently develop a personal response to one of a varied range of stimuli. Learners will develop their response during a preparatory study period culminating in a 15 hour sustained focus study.
Year1:
Autumn Term
- Coursework Portfolio
- Introduction to a range of foundation skills.
Spring Term
- Coursework Portfolio and mock exam
- Working on self-directed project titles and themes.
Summer Term
- Personal Investigation 60% of final grade – Contextual written element.
Year 2:
Autumn Term
- Personal Investigation continued – coursework portfolio and written component
Spring Term
- Resolving personal investigatio
- Introduction to externally set assignment
Summer Term
- Externally set assignment 40% of final grade
Homework is set weekly. Initially it is set by lecturers and will be tightly specified and closely linked to class workshops; it will be monitored regularly. As the course develops you will be required to set your own homework/independent work based on agreed learning needs.
Your ongoing work will be assessed in lessons through focused 1:1 discussion. Sketchbook work will be assessed regularly for reflective, thoughtful, analytical critical evaluation and annotation. Emphasis is upon the development towards a final piece, through observation and technical, aesthetic and conceptual refinement.
You will also be assessed against how your research of art, craft, design, media and technologies in contemporary and past societies and cultures improves your own understanding and practice.
Discussions and presentations are a vital part of our assessment process and you will be expected to contribute to these during your lessons.
GCSE Art Grade 4 or above (if taken), GCSE English Grade 5 or Humanities Grade 5 and a keen interest in drawing and developing your creativity.
The Art Department is friendly, supportive, ambitious and hardworking. Achievement in this subject relies heavily on your attendance, punctuality and commitment to learning, both independently and within lectures.
Independent practice will be supported through PowerPoints, worksheets and other guides available through our Moodle course. We also provide further support through focused boards on Pinterest.
Awarding Body: Eduqas
