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Visual Communication Design

Year 9 - Core

Length of Course: Semester
Department: Design and Creative Arts
Head of Department: Mr Kevin Jess
Year Available: 2026

In this subject, students are introduced to the world of Visual Communication Design through hands-on projects that explore the fields of environmental design (architecture), industrial design (product design), and communication design (graphic design). Students will learn how designers use the design process to develop and refine visual communications in response to a brief. They will apply design thinking strategies such as research, idea generation, and critical reflection to develop creative and effective design solutions.

Students will explore a range of methods, including freehand and digital drawing, printmaking, photography, and digital design using Adobe Creative Cloud tools. They will also learn how to use design elements and design principles to create visual communications that suit a target audience and a specific purpose. This unit encourages creativity, problem-solving, and an understanding of how visual language is used in professional design practice.

Curriculum focus

Type, Imagery and Graphic Messages

Students explore the relationship of type and image through a variety of tasks. These tasks provide an opportunity to understand the range of design elements and design principles that designers use in their work.

2D and 3D Drawing

Learn and practice new drawing skills including: visualisation, freehand and instrumental drawing, one point & two point perspective, tonal rendering, drawing from observation and drawing from the imagination.

Responding to a Brief

Students will use the design process and design thinking strategies to respond to a given brief. They will investigate characteristics of specific target audiences and use visual devices to gain and maintain the audience attention in a given context.

Assessment

Practical projects are assessed with regular feedback and an end-of-project rubric. An end-of-semester examination will test the content of both practical and theory projects. Homework will be assessed with regular feedback and grades.

Key Resource

  • A4 Visual Journal (spiral bound, blank pages)

  • Grey lead and coloured pencils

  • Black Fine liners (0.4 - 0.6)