Brookvale Groby Learning Campus

EXPERIMENTAL UNITS
A LEVEL GRAPHICS

EXPERIMENTAL UNIT Deadline: Friday 28th April 2017

Your Personal Investigation will be made up of a combination of

experimental work, an extended written element and coursework tasks
which will be assessed as below. Work will be presented in a range of ways.

Assessment Schedule

25% Contextual Understanding

25% Creative Making
25% Reflective Recording
25% Personal Presentation

To ensure that you meet all the assessment criteria, all units have been
designed to include work that links to each assessment objective.

Mini Projects Titles:

Portraiture
Drawing & Photography
Printing
Issues & Propaganda
Animation

Mini Project Outcomes:

Advertisement / Poster
Merchandise
Packaging
Editorial
Website / Corporate
Animation

*You MUST have all of these elements at the end of the experimental unit. It is
for you to decide which outcome you would like for each mini project. You
are not allowed to have the same outcome twice.

SELF-REFLECTION TASK Deadline: Friday 5th May 2017

You will reflect on and evaluate in detail how the work you have done in the
mini projects has influenced and inspired you and what you might want to
explore further. This should be presented as a piece of extended writing of
1000 words.
SELF-DIRECTED TASK Deadline: Friday 26th January 2018
Using your conclusions to the self-reflection task, choose a direction for your
self-directed focus task. This is an extended piece of work and will run
through to the end of January 2017, therefore you should choose a project
that you are genuinely interested in and which will maintain your attention
and enthusiasm. The work you produce will need to meet all the assessment
objectives, include primary and secondary research, contextual analysis,
designing, development and creative making, a final outcome and an
evaluation.

PERSONAL INVESTIGATION A Level Graphics

GUIDE SHEET
WKS
EXPERIMENTAL UNIT
/ ASSESSMENT
1-29 SCHEDULE
6WKS 1. Portraiture
MINI To produce an outcome from the designated list that links in some
BRIEF form to portraiture. The possible outcomes are an advertisement /
poster, a piece of packaging, an editorial piece (i.e. a double page
spread), merchandise or a choice of a website or business stationary.
You are not allowed to have the same outcome twice for any of the
experimental units.

Sign in 1xA3 page of initial research addressing the different styles of

day work portraiture with annotation looking at form, content, process and
Wk. 1 mood.
1xExperimantal portrait design piece that use traditional methods
such as drawing / painting, collage, mix media etc. This piece must
not have digital elements.

Research into your chosen theme / outcome from the list

AO1
Wk. 2
FOLDER WORK You should continuously record your work to
a professional standard with consideration into layout, font,
background and blending options. All work recorded for

given. On this page of research look into a theme that

each unit will contribute to 60% of the coursework unit.

interests you for this first unit i.e. sport, music, fashion etc. and
an outcome from the list provided.
1xA3 presentation page of your best foot, mouth, unseen,
right handed, left handed and continuous line portrait
CONTEXTUAL
drawings produced in class. ( Each drawing will have time UNDERSTANDING
constraints and be a maximum size of A6 ) Different materials 25%
will be available to use for this activity. Develop ideas
1xA3 Photoshoot page. You must have a minimum of 10 high through sustained
quality images ready for you to use in your transcription. and focused
investigations
HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time informed by
should be used to complete all of the work set. contextual and
other sources,
demonstrating
analytical and
critical
understanding.
 1xcritical analysis looking at portraiture artist that interests /

AO2
Wk. 3 - 4
inspires you. You must address form, content, process and
mood in this detailed piece of writing. ( See guide sheet for
extra support )
Transcription Make and present your own personal
interpretation from you chosen artist. You can use any desired
CREATIVE
method to produce this. MAKING 25%
Compare and contrast. Compare your transcription to the Explore and
work of your artist and look at the similarities and differences select
between the two in detail. ( See guide sheet for extra support appropriate
) resources, media,
1xA3 Ideas page for products / outcome (minimum of 4 materials,
ideas) and comment on which idea you have decided to techniques and
develop and why? These can either be sketched or produced
processes,
digitally.
reviewing and
This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time refining ideas as
HW
should be used to complete all of the work set. work develops.

AO3
Wk. 5 - 6 2xA3 development sheet. This must include a minimum of 8
developments of your chosen idea / outcome. Annotation
can be added throughout this process as a form of self-
reflection and to add clarity to your ideas. Points to consider
for developments are font, colour, layout, image, blending REFLECTIVE
options, information and background. RECORDING 25%
Present final piece.
Record ideas,
Mini evaluation. Reflect on your journey throughout the unit
of work. You will need to add peer assessment, what you
observations and
have learnt and how you could improve if you were to go insights relevant
back and do this again. to intentions,
reflecting on work
HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time and progress.

AO4
should be used to complete all of the work set.
DEADLINE Friday 7th October 2016
5WKS 2. Drawing & Photography
MINI To produce an outcome from the designated list that links in some
PERSONAL
BRIEF form to drawing and photography. The possible outcomes are an
advertisement / poster, a piece of packaging, an editorial piece (i.e. PRESENTATION
a double page spread), merchandise or a choice of a website or 25%
business stationary. You are not allowed to have the same outcome Present a
twice for any of the experimental units. personal and
meaningful
Wk. 7 1xA3 sheet of initial research into examples of drawing / response that
photography and the artists that produce these designs with realises intentions
annotation looking at form, content, process and mood. and, where
1x A3 sheet of research into your chosen theme / outcome
appropriate,
from the list given. On this page of research look into a theme
that interests you for this first unit i.e. sport, music, fashion etc.
makes
and an outcome. You will not be able to use the same connections
outcome or theme as unit 1. between visual
1xA3 Photoshoot page you must have a minimum of 15 and other
images. (Images need to be high quality and relevant ready elements.
for you to use in your transcription. )

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.
Wk. 8 - 9 1xA3 initial ideas page for products / outcome (minimum of 2
ideas) and identify which idea you have decided to develop
and why? These can either be sketched, painted, produced
digitally etc.
2xA3 development sheets. This must include a minimum of 8
developments of your chosen idea / outcome. Annotation
can be added throughout this process as a form of self-
reflection and to add clarity to your ideas. Points to consider
for developments are font, colour, layout, image, blending
options, information and background.

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.
Wk. 10 - Continue 2xA3 development sheets into final product.
11 Present final piece.
Mini evaluation. Reflect on your journey throughout the unit
of work. You will need to add peer assessment, what you
have learnt and how you could improve if you were to go
back and do this again.

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.
DEADLINE Friday 18th November 2016
7WKS 3. PRINTING
MINI To produce an outcome from the designated list that links in some
BRIEF form to printing. The possible outcomes are an advertisement / poster,
a piece of packaging, an editorial piece (i.e. a double page spread),
merchandise or a choice of a website or business stationary. You are
not allowed to have the same outcome twice for any of the
experimental units.

Wk. 12 1xA3 page of initial research into the different printing

techniques (Screen, Mono, Polyboard/Foamboard, Lino,
Etching). It is important that you annotate/explain these
methods in detail.
1xA3 sheet into product outcome from the list given. You will
not be able to use the same outcome or theme as unit 1, 2, or
3.
1xA3 research into theme for this specific unit. You must not
choose a theme that you have used in previous units.
Gather and prepare possible images ready for print the
following weeks. These images must relate to your theme for
the unit.
Teacher demonstration and independent note taking on the
processes shown by the teacher. This will be an important
lesson as the next 2 weeks will depend on what has been
learnt here.

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.
Wk. 13 - Printing Students to work on their own individual prints for
15 their unit. Students will be in a carousel stage throughout these
2 weeks to ensure that they experiment with a number of
material and cover all of the techniques (screen, lino,
etching, polyboard/foamboard, mono, potato,
rubbings/textures). Students are expected to mount and
present work professionally in folders to document this stage.

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.
WK. 16 - 2xA3 page of ideas for products / outcome (minimum of 6
17 ideas) and comment on which idea you have decided to
develop and why? These would be better if produced digitally
so that it is easier for you to develop in the last week. Also,
your ideas must include your experimental prints.

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.
Wk. 18 2xA3 page of development of product. This must include a
minimum of 8 developments of your chosen idea / outcome.
Annotation can be added throughout this process as a form
of self-reflection and to add clarity to your ideas. Points to
consider for developments are font, colour, layout, image,
blending options, information and background.
Present final piece.
Mini evaluation. Reflect on your journey throughout the unit
of work. You will need to add peer assessment, what you
have learnt and how you could improve if you were to go
back and do this again.
 HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time
should be used to complete all of the work set.
DEADLINE Friday 20th January 2017
5WKS 4. Animation
MINI To produce an animated gif on a theme/subject of your own choice.
BRIEF To highlight that this is an animation, it will be vital that your frames are
presented in your folders/sketchbooks in the correct order at the end
of the unit.

Wk. 19 1xA3 page of initial research into different types of animation.

( stop motion, frames, photography etc. )
1x A3 page of directed research into artist / theme. You will
not be able to use the same outcome or theme as unit 1-5.
1xA3 page of initial ideas sketched thumbnails plus
annotation (minimum of 4 ideas). Indicate which idea to
develop and why. These can either be sketched or produced
digitally.

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.

Wk. 20 1xA3 page storyboard ( plan + annotation for your animation

)
Produce animation.

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.
Wk. 21 - Produce animation continued.
23 1xA3 presentation sheet showing a selection of frames from
the finished animation.
Present DVD of final animation.
Mini evaluation. Reflect on your journey throughout the unit
of work. You will need to add peer assessment, what you
have learnt and how you could improve if you were to go
back and do this again.

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.
DEADLINE Friday 3rd March 2017
6WKS 5. Issues and Propaganda
MINI To produce an outcome from the designated list that links in some
BRIEF form to Issues & propaganda. The possible outcomes are an
advertisement / poster, a piece of packaging, an editorial piece (i.e.
a double page spread), merchandise or a choice of a website or
business stationary. You are not allowed to have the same outcome
twice for any of the experimental units.

Wk. 24 1xA3 page of initial research into different Issues /

propaganda over time. Some examples of an issue that you
could look at could be: war / abuse / racism etc. It is
important that you look at a range of issues and
annotate/explain these in detail.
1xA3 sheet into product outcome from the list given plus the
specific issue that you have chosen. On this page of research
look into the theme that interests you the most for this fifth unit
i.e. racism, war, abuse etc. You will not be able to use the
same outcome or theme as unit 1, 2, 3 or 4.
1xA3 research into specific artist / style for your chosen issue.
You must address form, content, process and mood in this
detailed piece of writing. ( See guide sheet for extra support ).

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.
Wk. 25 - 3xdigital ideas stating which one to develop and why. You
26 need to push/challenge yourself within these three designs by
adding lots of detail and paying particular consideration into
the layout and content of the piece as it must strongly convey
a message.

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.
Wk. 27 Continue with the 3xdigital ideas stating which one you would
like to develop and why.
2xA3 development sheets for the image. This must include a
minimum of 8 developments of your chosen idea / outcome.
Annotation can be added throughout this process as a form
of self-reflection and to add clarity to your ideas. Points to
consider for developments are font, colour, layout, image,
blending options, information and background.

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.
Wk. 28 2xA3 pages of development continued.
1xA3 page of ideas for products / outcome (minimum of 4
ideas) and comment on which idea you have decided to
develop and why? These can either be sketched or produced
digitally.

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.

Wk. 29 1xA3 page of development of product. This must include a

minimum of 4 developments of your chosen idea / outcome.
Annotation can be added throughout this process as a form
of self-reflection and to add clarity to your ideas. Points to
consider for developments are font, colour, layout, image,
blending options, information and background.
Present final piece.
Mini evaluation. Reflect on your journey throughout the unit
of work. You will need to add peer assessment, what you
have learnt and how you could improve if you were to go
back and do this again.

HW This should be a minimum of 4 hours per week and this time

should be used to complete all of the work set.
DEADLINE Friday 28th April 2017

SELF-REFLECTION TASK
Wk. 30

2nd May 5th May 2017

The purpose of this exercise is to help you find a direction for the self-
directed focus task which is part of this Personal Investigation unit. You
will be able to include some or all of the work done up to now as part
of your project. So, review, reflect on and evaluate in detail how the
work you have done through the mini projects has influenced and
inspired you and what you might want to explore further. This should
be presented as a piece of extended writing of 1000 words. Use the
guide sheet to help you.

DEADLINE 5th May 2017