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Overview

The Graphic Communication (also known as Graphic Design) A-level enables students to explore a range of graphic communication media, processes and techniques, relating to both traditional and new media.

Key Facts

Start Dates:

  • 6 January 2025
  • 8 September 2025

Colleges:

  • Oxford

Entry level:

  • Academic: Completed 10 years of schooling (GCSE or equivalent)
  • English: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent

Minimum age:

  • 16

Length:

  • 2 Academic Years (3 terms)
  • We also offer entry from Year 12
  • One year programme available as part of the fast-track Art pathway in Oxford

Lessons:

  • Average 7 hours per week for each A-level subject (plus homework and private study)

Learning outcomes

  • Gain UK national university entrance qualification
  • Raise English to university level
  • Develop study skills required at degree level
  • Develop specialist subject expertise

Areas of study

For the purposes of this qualification, graphic communication is sub-divided into the following four disciplines:

  • advertising
  • illustration
  • branding
  • information design.

Students will be required to work in one or more of the disciplines to communicate their ideas. By working across disciplines, they will extend their understanding of the scope of graphic communication; by focusing on one discipline, they will gain a deeper understanding of specific processes within graphic communication.

Course content

Advertising

Students will develop integrated knowledge, skills and understanding of the following:

  • how graphic communication is used to convey information, arouse interest, tell stories, create brand recognition, sell a product or service, promote brand loyalty
  • the role of graphic communication within marketing strategies, promotional campaigns, corporate identity design, logo design
  • design briefs, clients, audiences, web-based and digital advertising, use of social media
  • the use of images and typography in advertising, such as photography, animation and video.

Illustration

Students will develop integrated knowledge, skills and understanding of the following:

  • the relationships between illustration and narrative
  • illustration briefs, clients and audiences
  • thumbnails, sketches, dissections, plans and elevations
  • the use of digital technology such as photo-editing and vector-based software alongside and in combination with traditional wet and dry working processes
  • illustration for a variety of purposes, such as book, magazine, advertising, covers, web-based, interactive
  • infographics as a way of communicating data through imaginative charts and diagrams.

Branding

Students will develop integrated knowledge, skills and understanding of the following:

  • how packaging is determined by its contents
  • marketing briefs, clients and audiences, brand identity, brand loyalty
  • making suitable production drawings, which may include computer-generated ideas and developments
  • surface images, illustration decoration or pattern for packaging
  • development and construction of three-dimensional prototypes, considering production materials, recyclable design, using sustainable or renewable materials
  • planning and developing procedures for reproduction and manufacture
  • specifying sustainable materials and production processes that are suitable for recycling and/or reuse
  • the legal requirements for information that must be included on certain types of packaging, and for barcoding and tracking.

Information design

Students will develop integrated knowledge, skills and understanding of the following:

  • letter forms, font types, serif and sans serif fonts, leading, paragraph indents, hanging indents, justification, alignment, headings, kerning and sub-headings
  • typographical requirements for digital and print-based products, such as magazine design, newspaper design, web page design, leaflet and poster design
  • the appropriate use of templates, page layout, style sheets, image manipulation, compression, workflow and file types
  • 3d digital graphic techniques, such as modelling objects, rotation, lathing, extruding, linking, creating and applying textures and lighting effects
  • moving image/time-based digital graphic techniques, such as storyboarding, sound, animation, colour consistency
  • the appropriate use and combination of words, visual 2D and 3D representations, time and desired user behaviours and responses
  • interface design, such as the use of symbols and words to aid and enhance navigation, principles of control panel display, use of navigational structures and levels
  • a variety of presentation formats for different audiences, such as web-based, projection, touch-screen, mobile phones, DVD, downloadable content.

Typical A-level subject combinations with Graphic Communication

Sample enrichment activities

  • Photography Club
  • History Film Club
  • Trinity Arts Awards
  • Current Affairs and News Club
  • Debating Society

Sample academic calendar (2023-2024 and 2024-2025)

Year 1

Sept

11th: term starts
Student induction

Oct

23 – 27th: half term
Progress tests

Nov

University fairs and talks

Dec

15th: term ends
End of term exams

Jan

8th: term starts

Feb

15th – 16th: half term
Progress tests
University fairs

Mar

End of term exams
22nd: term ends

Apr

8th: term starts

May

Progress tests

June

Exams
14th: term ends

Year 2

Sept

9th Sept: term starts

Oct

21st October – 1st November: half term
15th October: UCAS deadline (Medicine)
Progress tests

Nov

University fairs and talks

Dec

13th: term ends
End of term exams

Jan

6th: term starts
15th January: UCAS deadline (other subjects)

Feb

13 – 14th: half term
Progress tests

Mar

21st: term ends
Mock exams

Apr

7th: term starts
Progress tests

May

Final exams

June

13th June: term ends

Degree progression

Many students who do Graphic Design at A-level use their qualification to do a degree in Graphic Design or a related subject.

A Graphic Design degree is useful for a number of jobs, including graphic designer, advertising art director, animator, artworker, creative director and illustrator.

Example degree courses which require or accept Graphic Design A-level include:

  • Graphic Design
  • Games Design
  • Product Design
  • Digital Media and Culture
  • Illustration
  • Animation

Thank you for your enquiry.
We'll be in touch soon.
The Kings Admissions Team