This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of design principles and visual communication giving you a strong foundation of skills.  You will also be given the freedom to explore and experiment with a wide range of traditional and digital techniques and processes.

Within the subject of graphic design, you are encouraged to explore a range of disciplines such as illustration, typography, advertising, packaging, branding, editorial design, animation and web design.  Our graphic design course is primarily branding focused.  The graphic classrooms are well-equipped with a range of materials and equipment; there is an industry standard imac computer with a Wacom tablet and the Adobe Creative Suite for each student to use.

You will learn and develop a variety of techniques within traditional and digital drawing, illustration, typography and collage.  You will be given project briefs with freedom for you to explore your interests within the theme given.  You will follow the design process when fulfilling the brief by gathering research, looking at a range of artists and designers, recording, exploring and developing your ideas and chosen technique/s and then realising your intentions with a highly creative and personal outcome. 

Lessons are highly creative and practical.  You will be introduced to contemporary and historical artists, typographers, illustrators and designers.  You will develop a strong foundation of skills in visual communication early on including illustration, typography, layout skills and idea generation techniques.  You will follow the design process and learn how to generate ideas and problem solve.  You will learn to produce successful, professional and imaginative outcomes in response to both set and self-initiated project briefs and as your skills develop - you will have more freedom to explore your own interests in graphic design.

We are with the AQA exam board.  All projects are formatively and summatively assessed by the teacher.  Students know throughout their projects what level of work they are creating and how well they are fulfilling the assessment objectives.  Students continually receive verbal feedback from their teacher as well as written feedback on their work.  There are four assessment objectives to fulfill; record, explore, develop and present.  Each objective is marked out of 24 and the maximum marks a student can achieve is 96 marks.

We cross moderate and standardise coursework thoroughly within the graphics department and within the art department in year 2.  An AQA moderator also sees coursework samples.

In the first year, students will develop a skills based portfolio of work through a range of exciting prescribed short and longer projects.  These projects are all summatively assessed. 

In the second year, there are two components that will be assessed.  Component 1 is a lengthy and in-depth personal investigation which gives the students freedom to choose a personal branding project.  This is worth 60% of their A level.  Component 2 is an externally set assignment.  AQA provides an exam paper with a range of briefs to choose from, then students complete the coursework for the brief they choose over a number of months.  Students then complete a final piece in exam conditions.  The full project and final outcome/s are assessed altogether at the end - the exam work is not solely assessed on it's own.  This is worth 40% of their A level.

• Additional tasks are promoted each week to students to extend their coursework further and achieve higher grades;
• Competitions are promoted from both internal and external briefs regularly;
• Course leaders from graphic design degree courses are invited in to talk to students and deliver workshops;
• Industry specialists and practitioners are invited in to deliver talks and workshops;
• Ex students who have progressed onto relevant design courses, apprenticeships and careers are invited in to deliver talks and workshops;
• Once a month staff post five recommendations for students to engage with, including something to watch, something to read, someone to follow on social media, somewhere to go and a wildcard;
• Staff run additional workshops and tutorials outside of lesson time;
• Students' work is celebrated both on social media and at the end of year exhibition.

Graphic design can complement and be combined with a wide range of subjects depending on your interests and intended specialism.  Many students take two art subjects.  The most popular subjects combined with graphics are business, media studies, psychology, fine art, photography, criminology, sociology, film studies, geography and information technology, along with maths and physics.

Art and design foundation course, design employment or a degree in an art and design subject such as graphic design, illustration, advertising, animation, games design or architecture.

Please see below for careers and labour market information for graphic design - use the refresh buttons to find out about different courses and careers, and use the left and right arrows to view more detailed information.

You can find the prep work for this course at prepwork.farnborough.ac.uk. 

Q: What is graphic design?
A: Graphic design is the visual communication of ideas, meanings and messages - it involves creating visual designs that serve a purpose.  Graphic design is creative problem solving; students will learn how to implement a range of technical skills to a variety of projects, focussing on typography and imagery.  Our course is primarily focussed on branding and building a brand identity from start to finish.  Some techniques that students will learn and explore include; hand-rendered and digital illustration, hand-rendered typography, digital typography and editorial design, photo manipulation, traditional print, animation.

Q: Do I have to have done art GCSE?
A: No, you do not need an Art GCSE.  If you haven't studied an art or design subject at GCSE you will be asked to share examples of your creative work at enrolment. It's important that you have an interest in art and design, but students who do not have a creative GCSE are not at a disadvantage and they do very well on the course.

Q: Do I have to be able to draw or know how to use Adobe software?
A: You do not have to be able to draw well.  There are some elements on the course that require hand drawn tasks but these are often preliminary sketches.  The course allows you to develop your own personal style, whether that is hand drawn or digital.  We also do not require students to have any previous experience with the Adobe software.  We use predominantly Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign on the course.  We deliver full inductions into the software during the first few weeks and continue to help students develop new skills throughout the course.  We also have an extensive library of department video demonstrations with a wide range of techniques and tools from beginner to advanced that the students can refer to at any time.  Students will be able to access the full Adobe suite at home using their College accounts, which will allow them to spend more time with the software and become more confident with it. 

Q: What jobs can graphic design lead too?
A: Graphic design can lead to all sorts of creative employment such as graphic designer, art therapy, web designer, illustrator, editor, animator, video game designer, interior designer, user interface designer, art director, creative director, marketing careers, journalism, creative advertising, brand strategist, freelance designer as well as a whole host of creative higher education courses.  We also commonly have students who take graphic design alongside maths and physics so they can progress onto architecture or engineering degrees.

Q: What computer will I use in graphics?
A: Our graphics studios are equipped with industry standard iMacs that students will use throughout their projects.  It would be useful for students to have access to a Windows or Mac laptop or desktop at home where they will be able to access their Adobe Creative Suite to continue with their coursework.  More students are using their iPads to create designs on.  There are also other computers in college that are available for students to use outside of lessons if required.