For more information regarding the curriculum please contact: admin@blaconhigh.cheshire.sch.uk

Staff

Head of Department: Mr I Haycock

Graphics Teacher: Miss K Jones

Graphics Teacher: Miss S Mcivor

Year 7

HALF TERM 1

This course focuses on the design and application of innovative ideas to advertise and market a product. The course will test your ability to; research, design, refine and implement ideas, whilst developing skills practically in a range of media and using CAD software such as; Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. Students studying Graphic Communication in year 7 will design the promotional material for a fictional Collectable Toy Exhibition. They will research the artist KidRobot and experiment with a range of materials and media. This will lead to the development of initial ideas, refined ideas and a final idea which will be refined further in Photoshop. Research Introduction to Graphic Communication understanding and dissecting a brief understanding the problem solving the problem Independent research to inform design Existing Products research and analysis understanding user needs Artist/Designer research and analysis. 

HALF TERM 2

Design Experimentation and testing with a range of materials and media experimentation and testing with a range of techniques and processes working in the style of the artist/designer/culture responding to research communicating ideas – annotations and diary/log, discussions and presentations walking gallery group discussion self-assessment peer assessment. 

HALF TERM 3

Design Experimentation and testing with a range of materials and media experimentation and testing with a range of techniques and processes working in the style of the artist/designer/culture responding to research communicating ideas – annotations and diary/log, discussions and presentations walking gallery group discussion self-assessment peer assessment. 

HALF TERM 4

Refinement mind mapping responding to the brief/research development of innovative and creative ideas refinement of experimentation (selection of media, tools, techniques and processes) linking research to initial ideas communicating ideas – annotations and diary/log, discussions and presentations self-assessment peer assessment group discussion group presentation. 

HALF TERM 5

Refinement mind mapping responding to the brief/research development of innovative and creative ideas refinement of experimentation (selection of media, tools, techniques and processes) linking research to initial ideas communicating ideas – annotations and diary/log, discussions and presentations self-assessment peer assessment group discussion group presentation. 

HALF TERM 6

Create Development of final idea/plan selection of ideas to develop informed by initial ideas Selection of appropriate materials and media informed from refinement self-assessment peer assessment communicating ideas – annotations and diary/log, discussions and presentations solving issues and making informed amendments Use of CAD/CAM (Adobe Creative Suite) SWOT analysis. 

Year 8

HALF TERM 1

This course focuses on the design and application of innovative ideas to advertise and market a product. The course will test your ability to; research, design, refine and implement ideas, whilst developing skills practically in a range of media and using CAD software such as; Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. Students studying Graphic Communication in year 8 will design a gift card for a fictional music sharing site called Amplify. They will research the artists Keith Haring, Supermundane and Mike Perry. Students will then experiment with a range of materials and media. This will lead to the development of initial ideas, refined ideas and a final idea which will be refined further in Photoshop. Research Introduction to Graphic Communication understanding and dissecting a brief understanding the problem solving the problem Independent research to inform design Existing Products research and analysis understanding user needs Artist/Designer research and analysis. 

HALF TERM 2

Design Experimentation and testing with a range of materials and media experimentation and testing with a range of techniques and processes working in the style of the artist/designer/culture responding to research communicating ideas – annotations and diary/log, discussions and presentations walking gallery group discussion self-assessment peer assessment. 

HALF TERM 3

Design Experimentation and testing with a range of materials and media experimentation and testing with a range of techniques and processes working in the style of the artist/designer/culture responding to research communicating ideas – annotations and diary/log, discussions and presentations walking gallery group discussion self-assessment peer assessment brand identity advertising marketing logo connotative and denotative messages.  

HALF TERM 4

Refinement mind mapping responding to the brief/research development of innovative and creative ideas refinement of experimentation (selection of media, tools, techniques and processes) linking research to initial ideas communicating ideas – annotations and diary/log, discussions and presentations self-assessment peer assessment group discussion group presentation. 

HALF TERM 5

Refinement mind mapping responding to the brief/research development of innovative and creative ideas refinement of experimentation (selection of media, tools, techniques and processes) linking research to initial ideas communicating ideas – annotations and diary/log, discussions and presentations self-assessment peer assessment group discussion group presentation. 

HALF TERM 6

Create Development of final idea/plan selection of ideas to develop informed by initial ideas Selection of appropriate materials and media informed from refinement self-assessment peer assessment communicating ideas – annotations and diary/log, discussions and presentations solving issues and making informed amendments Use of CAD/CAM (Adobe Creative Suite) SWOT analysis. 

Year 9

HALF TERM 1

Key Skills: Moodboards

  • Understanding a brief
  • User needs
  • How to effectively research
  • Primary research
  • Secondary research
  • Artist/designer/culture research
  • Effective communication

HALF TERM 2

Key Skills: Analysing

  • Effective analysis toolkit (WWWN)
  • Structuring communication (overview, style, approach)
  • Use of communication to share ideas and insights
  • Making informed decisions
  • Mind maps
  • Presentations
  • Walking galleries
  • Formal annotations
  • Notes
  • Use of literacy maps and sentence starters

HALF TERM 3

Key Skills: Experimentation

  • Develop understanding, knowledge and skills with range of media and materials
  • Engage with different techniques and processes
  • Monoprinting
  • Lithography
  • Watercolour
  • Ink/brusho
  • Emulsion printing
  • Indian inks
  • Continuous line

HALF TERM 4

Key Skills: CAD/CAM (photoshop)

  • Development and use of CAD/CAM in industry
  • Introduction to Adobe Creative Suite
  • Basic use of Photoshop/illustrator/InDesign
  • Adjusting images
  • Layers / gradients
  • Importing images
  • Creating and importing typography

*(tools/processes demonstration and experimentation for all skills)

HALF TERM 5

Key skills: Photoshop and Illustrator

  • File formats
  • Filter Gallery
  • Vectors in illustrator – creating shapes

HALF TERM 6

Key Skills: Illustrator

  • Creating type
  • Layering
  • Manipulation of shapes
  • Importing to Photoshop
  • Pen tool
  • Gradients

Year 10

HALF TERM 1

UNIT 1

Research:

  • Artist/Designer: David Carson, May van Millingen
  • Brand/Company: Innocent Smoothies
  • Existing Products: Fridge Magnets
  • Movement/Culture: Op Art
  • Primary Research: Fruit Photographs
  • Experimentation:
  • Life Drawings Fruits
  • Tissue paper experimentation
  • Watercolour

HALF TERM 2

  • Emulsion paint
  • Brusho
  • Indian inks
  • Illustrator typography
  • Photoshop edits
  • Refinement of chosen media, materials, techniques and processes

HALF TERM 3

  • Refinement of chosen media, materials, techniques and processes
  • Initial ideas
  • Refined ideas

HALF TERM 4

  • Final Design idea
  • Final idea refinements on Photoshop

HALF TERM 5

UNIT 2

Research:

  • Artist/Designer: Stenberg Brothers
  • Brand/Company: Chester Storyhouse
  • Existing Products: Dr Mabuse, Dr Caligari
  • Movement/Culture: Russian propaganda
  • Primary Research: Chester Storyhouse – advertising and promotion

HALF TERM 6

  • Building Composition
  • Brusho
  • Watercolour
  • Media
  • Typography

Year 11

HALF TERM 1

This course focuses on the design and application of innovative ideas to advertise and market a product. The course will test your ability to; research, design, refine and implement ideas, whilst developing skills practically in a range of media and using CAD software such as; Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. To summarise Graphic Communication is about responding to a brief, by researching to develop ideas, which are later refined, leading to the implementation of a design idea/product.

  • Refinements of experimentation
  • Initial ideas
  • Refined ideas

HALF TERM 2

  • Refinement of ideas
  • Final Design idea
  • Final idea refinements on Photoshop

HALF TERM 3

Unit 3 (Exam)

  • Research
  • Artist/Designer
  • Brand/Company
  • Existing Products
  • Movement/Culture
  • Primary Research
  • Experimentation with media, materials, techniques and processes

HALF TERM 4

  • Experimentation with media, materials, techniques and processes
  • Initial ideas
  • Refinement
  • Refined ideas
  • Exam prep and plan

HALF TERM 5

  • Exam prep and plan
  • Exam

HALF TERM 6

Students have completed Graphic Communication after exam

To view the Curriculum maps for Years 7, 8 , 9, 10 & 11 Click the button below.

Curriculum Map