Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

what is graphic communication A level

20 replies

lu9months · 21/04/2021 20:51

hi all, my son is very bright and supposed to be doing gcses but due to anxiety he is not going into school. he is interested in 3D design/computer aided design/architecture but does not feel up to doing A levels with lots of exams so we are looking at more continual assessment course. one A level offered locally is graphic communication but even googling i cant find much about what it is , though he thinks it looks interesting. anyone got any experience? much appreciated!

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 21/04/2021 21:15

I thought this A Level had disappeared in the A Level 'reforms'. Graphics still exists I believe and graphic communication forms part of art A Level.

I may be wrong about this but google certainly doesn't direct me to any exam board's current site.

Hopefully someone else will know more.

NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 21/04/2021 21:17

The AQA A-Level in art & design allows students to pick one subject to study from a list of 6. See the specification at www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/as-and-a-level/art-and-design/specification-at-a-glance.

NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 21/04/2021 21:18

Sorry, should have said one of those subjects is graphic communication.

MarchingFrogs · 21/04/2021 23:44

Is it definitely an A level and not a BTEC Extended Diploma?

If it is an A level, he would be expected to be studying other subjects alongside it.

catndogslife · 22/04/2021 08:02

My dd took this subject at A level OP and it is definitely still running. Not many sixth forms offer it though.
It was the AQA one listed above.
The sixth form would normally expect GCSE Art or similar Creative subject.
Assessment was via portfolio coursework and an essay study. There is an exam carried out under timed conditions where students carry out a design project. Very different to doing a written exam though as students can plan their exam work beforehand.

Original poster
lu9months · 22/04/2021 09:04

thankyou. yes its an A level. he could potentially sit other A levels or BTECs too but it depends on his anxiety levels. hes more interested in 3D design rather than drawing/2D - did DT not art gcse so not sure how good he would find it

OP posts:
Einszwei · 22/04/2021 09:21

A lot of architecture students I knew in Scotland studied graph comm for their highers.
It will be useful if he wants to go down the design route, as it will give him a base for a portfolio if/when he wants to apply to university.

It sounds like he is really interested in 3D visualisation. There are lots of fantastic resources (software and tutorials) available online. Architecture is very stressful so might not be very compatible with his anxiety, however a lot of people in archiviz are self taught. They often freelance - this might be something your son would be interested in?

Original poster
lu9months · 22/04/2021 09:25

yes indeed, or possible apprenticeship- just needs to get enough qualifications to allow him to do this

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 22/04/2021 09:43

If he's interested in 3D design/computer aided design, presumably he's already into programming, but he'll need a decent underpinning of maths.

catndogslife · 22/04/2021 13:56

I will update is dd lets me know otherwise, but there was no 3D design when dd did Graphics communication.
It was mostly 2d design using creative computer software with added photography and traditional drawing.
dd had taken DT Product Design GCSE and I would say that those who had taken Art GCSE had an advantage, because the way the course was organised was more similar to Art than DT in terms of developing a portfolio and the exam / assessment structure.
dd did also consider a BTEC extended diploma (equivalent to 3 A levels) which would cover a fuller range of skills than the one subject A level, but decided she didn't want to specialise at that stage.
Continuing with Product design for A level may work for architecture.
Your ds could also look at an extended Art and Design BTEC as it may be possible to study 3 d design as part of Art.
I am not sure if this would work for Architecture though as usually this needs a mix of Art and Science/Maths.

Original poster
lu9months · 22/04/2021 15:55

@catndogslife thats helpful thankyou

OP posts:
CovidCorvid · 22/04/2021 16:03

Dd is doing an architecture degree and I have to say it’s really tough and stressful, she’s doing 60 hours a week in the studio.

She did a product design a level which she enjoyed, not heard of graphic communication.

CovidCorvid · 22/04/2021 16:05

You don’t need maths or science for architecture btw. Only for Bristol and probably the Bartlett. All the unis Dd looked at didn’t specify subject but she did have to have a portfolio. Her other A levels were geography and biology. 🤷‍♀️😁

Original poster
lu9months · 22/04/2021 16:54

@CovidCorvid yes i cant imagine my son managing an architecture degree but im hoping if his anxiety improves he might be able to do 3D design/CAD or similar

OP posts:
Einszwei · 23/04/2021 07:05

@covidcorvid the Bartlett most definitely does not need Maths or Science at A level...it is one of the most conceptual/art based architecture degrees in the country.

CovidCorvid · 23/04/2021 07:10

That’s good, I just knew it was hard to get into. 😄. Dd didn’t even consider it as wouldn’t have had a chance.

BertieBotts · 23/04/2021 07:12

Graphic Communication sounds to me more like packaging design, page layouts, poster design, photography, things like that - not 3D design. More how to express a message through graphics.

MarchingFrogs · 23/04/2021 09:39

Product design degree?

Original poster
lu9months · 23/04/2021 14:34

thankyou. all really helpful

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page