Art & Design (NICCEA)

The course will give students opportunities to develop their visual literacy and individual potential in Art & Design, through observing and recording, experimenting and exploring, imagining, designing, creating, communicating and appreciating.

The specification requires that pupils are involved in investigating (i.e. preparation work) and realising (i.e. final piece) activities.

The investigative/preparation work will reflect experimenting and exploration with a variety of media, materials, processes and techniques. From initial stages to completion, the students will discuss, compare and evaluate their on going work, making reference to, and use of, techniques and approaches used by artists, designers and craftworkers to broaden their experience and inform their ideas. Students will also build up reference and resource material to help form and develop ideas for their own work.

This investigative work will lead to the realisation of two Final Pieces for their coursework in which students will select appropriate media, materials, processes, tools and techniques in the creation of two final pieces in two and/or three dimensions. Students should use and combine elements of the visual language in appropriate ways to realise their intentions, evaluating and measuring their outcomes against intentions.

Examination Requirements

The syllabus is divided as follows:
Coursework 60%
Externally Set Assignment 40%

Coursework Unit 1 30% a two-dimensional activity
Coursework Unit 2 30% a three-dimensional activity

One of the two coursework units must be based on Fine Art.
One of the two coursework units must be based on Design.

The externally set assignment is distributed in early February of Year 12 and poses one theme to be explored through a choice of one Art & Design discipline. The range of these disciplines is vast and includes ceramics, ICT, textiles etc.

Career Implications/Further & Higher Educational Possibilities

Art & Design GCSE allows entrance to vocational and/or A-level courses, Foundation Level in University or F.E. Colleges, Degree standard and further, if desired. The career opportunities include Advertising, Architecture, Film and video/media, Illustration, Landscape architecture, Photo Design, Restoration, Teaching, Theatre Design, Textile Design, Community Artist, Fashion Design, Fine Art, Gallery Administration, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Lighting, Marketing, Museum Conservation, Photography, Printing, Research & Visual Communication.
The study of art & design can also be continued on a personal level for pleasure and expression and has a valuable contribution to most areas of our lives.