GCSE Graphics
Unit 2 Questions
If you click on the tabs below you will find the 2012 GCSE Graphics examination questions.
You will have the lesson time in which to work and you must leave your sketch books in school at all times as this is a controlled assessment task. You may do research at home.
After Easter you will then have a ten hour examination at the end of which you must hand in your sketch book and all your completed work.
Unit 2 is worth 40% of your total mark (your Unit 1 - Portfolio is worth the other 60%).
Question 1: A Sense of Place
Artists and designers such as Judy Barrass, Sarah Bodman, Brian Dettmer and Ed Ruscha have all produced work in the form of an ‘artist’s book’. Techniques used in the making of artists’ books include concertinas. Scrolls, pop-ups and boxed single sheets and a combination of words and images are often used.
Research appropriate sources and produce your own artist’s book in response to Sense of Place.
Question 2: Composition
A form of composition using fonts and letterforms known as ‘Illustrative type’ was developed in the 20th century and is used by contemporary designers such as Matt Lyon and Jonny Wan. Its roots can be seen in Celtic Patterns, illuminated medieval manuscripts and Islamic texts.
Study appropriate sources and produce an ‘illustrative type’ composition to promote a talk radio station. This could take a variety of forms such as a banner, a flyer or images for inclusion on the station’s website.
Question 3: Packaging
A new range of laptops called ‘X:pr3ssion’, available in various sizes and colourways, is to be launched and proposals for distinctive packaging designs are requires. Examples of effective packaging design can be found in the work of design groups such as Ziggurat Brands, Burgopak and Pearlfisher.
Research appropriate sources and produce design proposals for the packaging of ‘X:pr3ssion’ laptops.
Question 4: Music
Album covers by designers such as Reid Miles (Blue Note Records), Peter Saville (Factory Records) and the design group Hipgnosis helped to give record labels their distinctive and recognisable graphic quality.
Research appropriate sources and produce one of the following for an exhibition called The Art of Album Covers:
a) Promotional materials such as flyers, posters, advertisements, gallery guides, carrier bags or t-shirts.
b) A web site to explain and promote the exhibition.
c) A cover design for an album to be launched at the exhibition.
Question 5: Public Information
Designers such as Royston Cooper, Abram Games and Reginald Mount created public information posters to publicise government campaigns on a variety of issues such as buying a TV licence, not trespassing on railway lines and health concerns.
Research public information materials and other relevant sources and present designs for:
EITHER: (a) a poster campaign for a current national or local issue
OR (b) a short film or animation about an issue of public interest.
Question 6: Animals
George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm is a satirical fable about power and corruption in which farm animals plot to overthrow their human masters.
Research a variety of relevant sources, including the works of animators and book illustrators as well as the narrative and characters in Animal Farm and produce designs for:
EITHER (a) a film or animation based on some aspect of the story
OR (b) illustrations to promote a new edition of the book.
Question 7: Here and Now
You should make connections with appropriate sources when developing your own personal response to one of the following suggestions.
(a) Develop your own interpretation of the starting point Here and Now.
(b) You could design the templates for a social networking site called hereandnow.co.uk
(c) You might design TV graphics for a weekly local news programme called Here and Now.