Question 1

What is the difference between GCSE Graphic Communication and Graphic Design?

Accepted Answer

Graphic Communication is the WJEC endorsement title that sits within Art and Design, while ‘Graphic Design’ is a broader term often used for commercial practice. Essentially, they cover the same territory, but the GCSE emphasises the entire design process—from brainstorming and experimentation to final outcomes and evaluation—with a strong focus on personal expression and contextual understanding. It’s not just about creating polished commercial products; it’s about exploring how images and text can communicate ideas in expressive, experimental ways. The course encourages you to blur the lines between art and design, meaning you can incorporate traditional art techniques like printmaking or drawing alongside digital work.

Question 2

Do I need to be amazing at drawing to do well in Graphic Communication?

Accepted Answer

No, you don’t need to be a ‘natural’ at drawing. While observational drawing is a useful skill for generating ideas and recording visual information, Graphic Communication values creativity, problem-solving, and effective visual communication over technical realism. You can use collage, found imagery, photography, typography, or digital illustration to create work. What’s more important is showing that you can select the most appropriate techniques for your idea and that you can develop and refine your work based on experimentation and feedback. Many successful designers rely more on a keen eye for composition and concept than on traditional drawing ability.

Question 3

What software should I learn for the GCSE Graphic Communication course?

Accepted Answer

Your school will likely have Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) available, and these are industry-standard tools worth becoming familiar with. However, if you don’t have access to these, free alternatives like GIMP (image editing), Inkscape (vector graphics), and Canva (layout) can do an excellent job. The key isn’t knowing every feature of a program, but understanding how to use software to develop your ideas. Experiment with combining hand-made elements and digital manipulation—scanning a painted texture into Photoshop to use as a background, for example. The examiners will be more impressed by your creative use of tools than by technical perfection. If you’re new to digital design, start with simple tutorials on layers, selections, and text manipulation.

Question 4

How do I annotate my sketchbook or portfolio effectively?

Accepted Answer

Good annotation is concise, critical, and personal. Instead of just listing steps, use this structure: (1) Describe what you did and why; (2) Analyse how it worked—consider formal elements, composition, mood, legibility; (3) Link to your research—did you apply something from a designer you studied?; (4) Evaluate success and suggest a next step. For example: ‘In this layout, I increased the leading to make the body text feel more airy, inspired by Jan Tschichold’s modernist principles. The arrangement still feels unbalanced because the headline dominates too heavily; next, I’ll experiment with a smaller, lighter header typeface.’ Use keywords from the mark scheme like ‘explore’, ‘refine’, ‘justify’, ‘context’, and always connect back to your intentions and audience.

Question 5

What kind of artists and designers should I research for my personal investigation?

Accepted Answer

Aim for variety: historical pioneers (e.g., Saul Bass, Paul Rand, Neville Brody), contemporary practitioners (like Paula Scher, Stefan Sagmeister, or Lisa Congdon), and designers from different cultures or disciplines (such as Japanese ukiyo-e artists who influenced Western design, or African fabric pattern designers). Also, look at designers who work in areas you’re interested in, whether it’s music posters, book covers, or branding. The key is to analyse their use of visual language and concepts, not just copy their style. When you find someone whose work excites you, ask yourself: What problem were they solving? What techniques did they use? How does their cultural background influence their work? This depth of analysis will strengthen your own projects.

Question 6

How is the WJEC GCSE Graphic Communication course assessed?

Accepted Answer

There are two components. Component 1 (60%) is your portfolio—a body of work developed over the course, demonstrating all four assessment objectives: develop ideas through investigation, experiment with media and techniques, record observations and insights, and present a personal, informed response. Component 2 (40%) is the externally set assignment (ESA). You’ll receive a paper with several themes, choose one, and spend a preparatory period (around 6–8 weeks) researching, planning and practising. Then, over 10 hours of supervised time (usually spread across two or three days), you create your final outcome along with supporting development. Both components are marked by your teacher and moderated externally. To excel, ensure that every piece of work clearly meets the assessment objectives, and don’t forget that your ability to explain and evaluate your process in annotations counts significantly.

graphic communication

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Related Topics in WJEC GCSE Art and Design

Externally set assignment

art, craft, and design

critical and contextual studies

E2E stub topic