Graphic Design

Graphic Design gives students the opportunity to develop as creative practitioners and to learn about the breadth of creative opportunities in the design sector.

They develop the necessary practical, professional and personal skills to create a diverse portfolio of work and to flourish as a freelance creative.

The creative industries are currently one of the fasted growing in the UK and students can expect to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to continue into professions such as marketing and communications, graphic design and illustration, digital and interactive media, or interior and architectural design. 

What will I Study?

• Typography and font design.
• Drawing skills (both traditional and digital).
• Colour theory.
• Traditional printing techniques.
• Visual research.
• Adobe Illustrator.
• Adobe Photoshop.
• Contextual skills.
• Infographics.
• Independent working skills.
• Layout and presentation.
• Editorial and branding.

What Are Lessons Like In This Subject?

Graphic Design lessons include a combination of practical workshops, 1:1 tutorials, and independent project work. In Year 12 the course is structured to develop the fundamentals of Graphic Design, covering a range of traditional skills including drawing, mixed media, and professional digital techniques using industry standard Adobe software.

The use of typography is integral, either hand rendered, or computer generated. In Year 13 you will have more freedom to explore your own design interests and select themes appropriate for your future career aspirations.  

The Visual Arts department has professional standard studio spaces with Apple Macs, Adobe Creative Suite software, and Wacom drawing tablets.

It also has a wide variety of other arts- based specialist tools and equipment to encourage students to explore multidisciplinary techniques such as photography and printmaking.

We operate an ‘open door’ policy to allow students to use the equipment and studio spaces independently outside of their lessons.

What Our Students Say

This course allowed me to experience the digital aspect of art and design that wasn’t available for me in my high school. This gave me the wanted experience for choosing my university course.