A Level Graphics

Please refer to EN's Entry Requirements Guide for specific advice on our Admissions Policy. This guide is supplied at interview to prospective students and is also available to Schools & Careers Advisers.

The fast-growing world of media, technology and business creates an exciting and ever-broadening, creative landscape for young designers to enjoy diverse, exciting and rewarding careers in the arena of commercial arts.

Graphics is a diverse subject within the visual arts involving a multitude of art & design disciplines and materials. The emphasis is on experimentation and idea development, often using any appropriate visual means and materials to satisfy illustration and design briefs. You will gain experience using a range of digital and manual processes with an emphasis on combining both for design outcomes. Areas to explore include; advertising, branding, illustration, animation, packaging, typography and designs for multi-media.

Some examples of recent projects include; advertising for a travel company using stop-time animation, illustration and cover design for a graphic novel, packaging design for a new energy drink’s brand, logo design and graphics for a new fashion label, anti-war poster design, website design for an animal charity and promotional material for a music festival.

The course is designed to identify and capitalise on each individual’s particular skills and interests with a central aim of creating a diverse and energetic studio environment. It’s here that the individual can then explore and discover the graphic designer that they most wish to be.

Drawing is an integral part of the course, but the emphasis is on developing skills in colour, typography, composition and ideas across a vast range of materials and processes from photography, digital illustration and collage to print-making, cut-paper and stenciling to name but a few.

We use fully up to date, industry standard, Adobe software of which no prior knowledge or experience is necessary to begin the course.

Exam - 87.5%

Coursework - 12.5%

Grade C or above in GCSE Art or Graphic Design. Students without this grade will need to show evidence of artistic and creative ability by submitting a portfolio of design or artwork. This can consist of drawings from life or computer-based designs. This would need to be submitted on or before Enrolment Day to a member of the Art Department. We have had many students successfully complete the course without the required GCSE scores.

Assessment

All work undertaken for the 2 components of each year of the course is practical. There are no formal theory exams, but simply a final outcome made under timed exam conditions at the end of each year.