Examination Board: Edexcel

This course offers students the opportunity to gain a broad knowledge of graphic design, exploring areas of communication and advertising in general, but concentrating mainly on the art of illustration.

Students will be encouraged to draw and paint from observation and from the imagination, and then use this information to satisfy a working brief such as illustration for a story or poem, a magazine article, creating a book cover, or designing a poster. Drawing plays an important part in the course, and it is recommended that students are reasonably confident draughtsmen.

Relevant areas of basic typography will be taught. And different mediums such as oil and waterbased paint, pen and ink, etching, lino and collage will be explored in order that each student can discover the best possible way for them to realise an illustration brief. Students will also gain a basic approach to digital media with graphic design, mainly using ‘photoshop’ software. Students will be encouraged to look at and analyse the work of other designers and illustrators and comment upon their working methods and ideas.

SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT
The scheme of assessment establishes the extent to which a student has met the assessment objectives.

FULL COURSE GSCE
The full course GCSE is made up of Paper 1 (coursework Unit 1 and Unit 2) and Paper 2.