A LEVEL GRAPHIC DESIGN & COMMUNICATION
Ever wondered how your favourite brands, game interfaces and viral album covers come to life? A Level Graphics is your chance to step into the designer’s seat to create visual media that gets noticed. Whether you’re into game design, web graphics, packaging, or streetwear branding and advertising, this course gives you the tools to take your ideas from a rough sketch to bold 2D and 3D outcomes.
Course Overview
Throughout this course, you’ll dive headfirst into the creative process by exploring how iconic design is made—drawing inspiration from past and present graphic artists, cinema, fine art, and digital media. You’ll investigate how design shapes the world around us, looking at real-world factors like marketing strategies, ethical issues, and environmental impact. Along the way, you’ll analyse professional works to see what makes them tick, using those insights to critique, refine, and elevate your own original concepts.
At its core, this option is all about experimentation and technical skill. You’ll get hands-on with both traditional media and digital software, mastering typography, composition, colour, and imagery. Through layout sketches, photography, storyboards, and digital manipulation, you will document every step of your creative journey. The focus stays firmly on turning bold ideas into reality—combining established techniques with new technologies to develop fresh, innovative ways of working.
Finally, you will take on the role of a professional designer by bringing your personal projects to life for a target audience. You will refine every detail, from font choices to print processes, ensuring your final pieces look polished and professional. You’ll learn how to present cohesive, meaningful design portfolios that clearly showcase your vision to potential clients and viewers.
Course Content
Year 1
Component One: workshop activities followed by a themed project based mainly on taught elements and developing ideas.
Year 2
Component One (continued): personal investigation. A practical unit of work with a written investigation between 1,000 and 3,000 words.
Component Two: controlled assessment – preparation and final piece. A 15-hour supervised period in which you are expected to fully realise your ideas.
Assessment
Both components are centre assessed and moderated by Eduqas. You will be expected to demonstrate a response to all of the assessment objectives.
Career Pathways: Where Can This Take You?
THE BRANDING, COMMERCIAL & TRADITIONAL MEDIA ROUTE – focuses on visual strategy, brand identity & physical craftsman
Logo & Brand Designer: develop memorable visual identities, logos and comprehensive brand guidelines across digital and print touchpoints.
Sign Writer: hand-craft or digitally design bespoke lettering, traditional shopfront fascia, architectural signage and commercial vehicle livery.
Stationery Designer: create custom typography and print layouts for corporate identities, luxury event invitations and bespoke paper goods.
THE PUBLISHING & TYPOGRAPHIC DESIGN ROUTE – focuses on editorial layout, structural typography and print production
Magazine Layout Designer: design striking multi-page editorial spreads, cover concepts and visuals for digital and print publications.
Book Designer: craft complete book aesthetics, including engaging cover artwork, inner page typography and binding formats.
Typographer: specialise in the anatomy, creation and application of custom letterforms, font families and expressive typography.
THE ADVERTISING, PACKAGING & CREATIVE DIRECTION ROUTE – focuses on campaign strategy, 3D forms and visual leadership
Advertising Director: lead the high-level visual vision, creative strategy and execution for major multi-channel marketing campaigns.
Packaging Designer: construct innovative 3D structural packaging solutions, unboxing experiences and retail-ready product graphics.
Point of Sale / Retail Display Designer: engineer eye-catching promotional displays, exhibition stands and 3D retail graphics that drive customer engagement in store.
Entry Requirements
Minimum 44444 including 4 in GCSE Art. or Graphics. You should also have a genuine interest in graphic design and an enthusiasm for being creative, designing and making quality outcomes.
What Do Our Students Say?
“I am pleased I chose to study Graphics at Dereham Sixth Form College – it is something I enjoy and wish to pursue as a career. I have learnt a great deal in the short space of time I have been here and am consistently pushed to produce my best work. I particularly enjoyed the smaller projects I completed at the start of Year 12 as they allowed me to explore a range of techniques for producing work. If I could change anything I would have been more adventurous with my work, taking risks and accepting challenges.” (Ellie)
Why Choose Dereham Sixth Form College for Graphic Design?
College Exhibitions
At the end of the year, you will have the opportunity to showcase your exam and coursework pieces to family and friends in our annual Art & Design Exhibition.
View our Digital Exhibitions here.
Specialist Facilities
You will have access to art rooms, textile studios, the dark room, workshops with laser cutters and 3D printers, and a suite of PCs, allowing you to experiment with a wide range of materials, tools and techniques.
WJEC Eduqas
All our art and design courses are awarded by WJEC Eduqas, following their
A Level Art and Design specification.
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