Graphics
Graphics in the ACE Curriculum brings ideas to life through visual communication and creative design.
Students take part in research, creative, and oracy tasks that develop their understanding of typography, layout, digital tools, and visual impact. They can design posters, branding, illustrations, and digital artwork, exploring how images influence audiences.
Graphics encourages precision, imagination, and confident presentation of creative ideas.
Year 9
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Research |
Intro to Graphic Design – Watch this quick beginner’s guide to layout, fonts, grids, and hierarchy. YouTube: Beginner’s Guide to Graphic Design |
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Show Graphics Study – See how motion designers created fun, clear visuals for BBC Bitesize. Peter Anderson Studio: Bitesize Graphics |
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Create |
Logo Remix – Choose a well-known logo (e.g., Nike, Apple) and redesign it in 3 styles: minimalist, retro, and playful. |
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Infographic Design – Pick a topic (like sport, food, or gaming) and design an infographic using colours, icons, and data. Try using Canva or draw it by hand. |
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Oracy |
Design Review – Show someone your 3 logo versions and explain how each one gives a different feel or message. |
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Graphic Explanation – Present your infographic and describe how your design choices (layout, icons, colour) make it clear and engaging. |
KS5
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Research |
Helvetica Documentary – Learn about the history, design, and typographic influence of Helvetica. Wikipedia: Helvetica (film) |
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Design Trilogy Overview – Research Gary Hustwit’s trilogy: Helvetica, Objectified, Urbanized—note how graphic design fits into broader design context. Wikipedia: Design Trilogy |
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Create |
Brand Poster Concept – Design a poster for a cultural event, using hierarchy, colour theory, and typography. Present in digital format (e.g. Illustrator, Canva) or as a polished hand-drawn version. |
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Typeface Exploration Sketches – Choose a typeface and redraw the uppercase alphabet, exploring variations in weight, serif style, and spacing. Annotate design decisions. |
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Oracy |
Watch ‘Teaching to See’ – Watch Teaching to See (Inge Druckrey) and share your observations: how does it teach visual literacy? Wikipedia: Teaching to See |
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Listen to “The Deeply Graphic Designcast” – Choose an episode and summarise a key idea for your peers: e.g., on typography, freelancing, or portfolio strategy. Apple Podcasts: DGDC |
