SUBJECT: VISUAL COMMUNICATION YEAR 8

THE PURPOSE OF THE COURSE:
This course of study is designed to enable students to:

• Understand how Graphic Communication is used in everyday life
• Use drawing instruments accurately
• Draw objects using a variety of drawing techniques
• Render using line and colour
• Understand the basics of orthographic and paraline drawing
• Plan and execute drawings in order to gain a basic understanding of the graphic elements (line, shape, tone, texture and colour) and design principles such as harmony, contrast, balance and proportion
• To gain a basic knowledge of the graphic devices and systems
• To be able to analyse the visual communications of others

THE CONTENT OF THE COURSE:

• Exercises using T-squares and set squares, rulers and compasses.
• The use of a range of pencils to discover their suitability for various drawings.
• Setting up a drawing sheet with border and title box.
• Drawing objects based on the square, rectangle, triangle and circle, using a combination of instruments and freehand drawing techniques including 2D and 3D objects including cubes, cones, pyramids, spheres and cylinders.
• How to render objects using line, tone, point and colour to indicate wood grain, metal, fabric, plants etc. Use of a variety of media.
• 2D and 3D drawings relating to each other in imagined space, ie orthogonal and paraline drawings
• Reduction and enlargement, with the use of a grid
• Lettering:
  • Upper and lower case, basic drafting styles
  • Expressive and creative lettering using colour, line, pattern and type styles,
  • Calligraphy, Medieval Lettering Illumination and Contemporary styles
• Introduction to the use of appropriate visual language to describe and critically evaluate the aesthetic qualities of visual communications
• Introduction to the Visual Communication Design Process:
  Students should begin to explore a range of ideas through research, trailling, and becoming aware of using a range of media and drawing systems to complete a piece of communication aimed at a specific audiences.
  

THE ASSESSMENT IN THE COURSE:
Work Requirements:

• A range of practical exercises to be presented as a folio of work
• Workbook
• Tests both drawn and written
• Written research projects: Historical contexts and analysis of visual communications in the community

Assessment Tasks:

• Folio
• Workbook
• Written projects
• Tests