The Course provides opportunity for learners to deepen their knowledge and skills they have encountered in S1-3 They will gain skills in reading, interpreting, and creating graphic communications. Learners will initiate, develop and communicate ideas graphically. They will develop spatial awareness and visual literacy through graphic experiences.
The Course is practical, exploratory and experiential in nature. It combines elements of recognised professional standards for graphic communication partnered with graphic design creativity and visual impact.
National 4/5 Graphic Communication
Course Summary
The course provides opportunity for learners to gain skills in reading, interpreting and creating graphic communications. Learners will initiate, develop and communicate ideas graphically. They will develop spatial awareness and visual literacy through graphic experiences. In addition to the course assessment, the course includes two mandatory Units. Both units are designed to provide progression to the corresponding Units at Higher.
Entry requirements
BGE experience in Graphic Communication and/or National 5 pass in Design and Manufacture.
Higher Graphic Communication
2D Graphic Communication
This Unit helps learners develop their creativity and skills within a 2D graphic communication context. It will allow learners to initiate, develop and communicate ideas using graphics techniques in straightforward and familiar contexts. In addition, the Unit allows learners to develop their skills in some less familiar or new contexts. Learners will develop 2D graphic spatial awareness.
3D and Pictorial Graphic Communication
This Unit helps learners develop their creativity and skills within a 3D and pictorial graphic communication context. Again, it will allow learners to initiate develop and communicate ideas using graphic techniques in straightforward and familiar contexts. In addition, the Unit allows learners to develop their skills in some less familiar or new contexts. Learners will develop 3D graphic spatial awareness.
Entry Requirements
Assessment structure
Pupils at Higher will be set an integrated graphic design and drawing/Illustration portfolio task by the exam board, to allow them to demonstrate their learning. This will account for 50% of the course marks. The course assessment for Nat5 has two components:
A question paper (worth 80 marks)
An assignment (worth 40 marks).
The question paper will assess breadth of knowledge, understanding and skills accumulated across the course. The question paper will be set and marked by SQA.
The assignment will assess your practical application of knowledge and skills from the units to develop a solution to an appropriately challenging design problem.
Progression
Graphic Communication is an important tool used widely in the construction, engineering and consumer industries. Career pathways from Graphic Communication include Graphic Design, Architecture, Advertising, Animation, Multimedia Design, Engineering and Publishing to name a few.
