Art and Design: Graphic Communication and Photography

Overview of the course

This option provides the opportunity to study Photography or Graphic Communication, designed for students wanting to work in the Creative Arts industry, with aspirations of becoming a Graphic Designer or a Photographer. The first part of the year has a common foundation phase where learners can decide which subject option best suits them.

The Graphic Design option will give you the opportunity to develop professional, technical and artistic skills in Graphic Design. You will be producing exciting creative work in both digital and traditional media, using specialist facilities; Apple Mac computer suite using Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and other software, as well as drawing, painting, print media and photography. The focus is on graphic products for printed or digital media; advertising, web design, packaging, music album and book covers, T-Shirt motifs, logos and more.
The Photography option will also give you the opportunity to develop technical and artistic skills employing a wide range of techniques; Joiner, Landscape, Portrait, Macro, Abstract, Panorama, Motion Blur, Light Graffiti, Digital Collage and more. Again, producing exciting creative work in both digital and traditional media, using specialist facilities; darkroom, lighting studio and our Mac computer suite. You will develop knowledge of darkroom practice as well as how to manipulate images digitally, using Adobe Photoshop. DSLR cameras are available to loan and all students will have access to the Adobe Creative Suite to use at home as well as in College.

Both options explore skills and subject knowledge within the context of thematic projects and live briefs. You will also learn specialist vocabulary and gain knowledge and understanding of historical and contemporary graphic designers, photographers and relevant artists.

AS
Unit 1: Personal Creative Enquiry.

A2
Unit 2: Personal Investigation. Unit 3: Externally Set Assignment.

Both options will enable learners from Level 2 Art, Design or Media courses, such as GCSE or L2 Diploma, to make informed choices about career and progression pathways specific to the area of Graphic Design and Photography.

Opportunities

From this AS/A2 programme students can progress to the Foundation Diploma in Art & Design L3/4 course at NPTC Group or directly to university or employment.

There are many exciting areas of Graphic Design or Photography to aim for as a career. Graphics: Advertising, Marketing, Packaging, Book Cover Design, Layout and Design for Books and Magazines, Posters, Publicity, Corporate ID, Webpage Design, Typography. Photography: Photojournalism, Fashion Photography, Wedding Photography, Events, Medical, Forensic, Sports, Portraiture, Product, Advertising, Travel, Documentary Photography and many more!