Project Reference:

BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design (Graphic Design)

Title:

From Reality to Comics

Timing within Course:

Yr 1, Term 1, 2014

Start Date:

15th of September 2013

Submission Deadline:

Mid-Point Deadline:
Course Work Deadline:

1st December 2014

17th December 2014

Assessment Period Start:

24th November 2014

Artists in charge of Project:

Moni Aksdal

Miskin Arts
THIS PROJECT IS AVAILABLE IN LARGER FONT SIZES, ON COLOURED PAPER AND VIA THE
COURSE TUMBLR SITE.

Units:

Unit 1: Visual Recording in Art and Design Final Assessment

Unit 2: Materials, Techniques and Processes in Art and Design
(In Part)
Unit 5: Contextual Influences in Art and Design (In Part)
Unit 12: Computers in Art and Design Final Assessment
Unit 37: Graphic Media Techniques and Technology (In Part)

Relevant Departmental Notes: Your personal blog is regarded as part of your work and will be
marked accordingly, alongside your sketchbook
Evidence:

This will be in the form of sketchbook work, final outcomes,

research, photographs, blog books and written proposals.

Grading criteria:

Pass / Merit / Distinction are attainable.

English and Maths: This project will include functional skills in English and Maths. Please bear in mind your
industry requires eloquent use of English and accurate use of figures, to which end, the continuing
development of these skills are firmly embedded inside all your work.
Note on copyright and plagiarism: This process will require independent research. Copying from the internet
and additional sources is not appropriate and violates copyright and will be classed as plagiarism unless fully
annotated and credited. You must make your work your own. We need to see that you have an understanding
of the areas that you have researched. Copying work directly from ANY source will not be tolerated. If you
quote ANY existing material you must put it in quotation marks and in brackets, attribute the source / author.
For example: Copying is cheating (Robbie McGovan, 2013, Miskin Theatre)

For a more in depth analysis of what is required refer to the Assessment Criteria Grids on the Fine
Art Blog

Brief IVd by Marie McGovan

Moni Aksdal

Miskin Arts
BRIEF OPTION 1

DESIGN CHARACTERS FOR YOUR OWN CARTOON STRIP

DEVELOP A MINIMUM OF TWO CARTOON/ COMIC OR FANTASY CHARACTERS FROM STUDIES OF

REAL PEOPLE (CELEBRITIES, YOURSELF, AND/ OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW)
CREATE A STORY LINE AND DESIGN A CARTOON STRIP INCLUDING YOUR CHARACTERS AND
DETAILED SURROUNDINGS
USE INSPIRATION AND REFERENCES FROM HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY CONTEXTS AND
REFLECT DIVERSITY IN CULTURES AND STYLES AROUND THE WORLD
YOUR FINAL DESIGN MUST BE PRESENTED IN BOTH A PHYSICAL AND A DIGITAL FORMAT
Company: Miskin Creative Graphics
We are looking for professional designers to enter artwork for an upcoming exhibition. The final product must
be a comic strip; which will be exhibited publically. You also need to produce an A3 portfolio sketchbook; which
is backing up your research, studies and developments. This project will represent Equality and Diversity. You
are to study global history of art and design as well as comics and present your findings in your sketchbooks.
You should experiment with a range of drawing, painting and graphic media techniques inspired by your
research and observational studies. You need to focus particularly on the human body and all the diverse
forms, shapes and expressions we make up. You also need to study objects from nature, man made objects
and buildings to prepare for development of surroundings scenes in your story. When you have chosen the
people you will use as a base for your characters; you need to show the steps you make in the development
from reality to comic character and describe how you change them proportionally and visually.
Your story could be funny, scary, dramatic, political, romantic, ethnical, educational or a fantasy story with a
message. Make sure you define the demographics (target group) for your product before hand. The cartoon
strip should be spread over one or two A3 pages, and you will create a digital version of it at the end. Images of
all your work must be submitted in your Tumblr Blog Book before or on deadline.

Brief IVd by Marie McGovan

Moni Aksdal

Miskin Arts
BRIEF OPTION 2

DESIGN CHARACTERS FOR YOUR OWN CHILDRENS BOOK

DEVELOP A MINIMUM OF TWO CARTOON/ COMIC OR FANTASY CHARACTERS FROM STUDIES OF

REAL PEOPLE (CELEBRITIES, YOURSELF, AND/ OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW)
CREATE A STORY LINE AND DESIGN A CHILDRENS BOOK WHICH INCLUDES YOUR CHARACTERS
AND DETAILED SURROUNDINGS
USE INSPIRATION AND REFERENCES FROM HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY CONTEXTS AND
REFLECT DIVERSITY IN CULTURES AND STYLES AROUND THE WORLD
YOUR FINAL DESIGN MUST BE PRESENTED IN BOTH A PHYSICAL AND A DIGITAL FORMAT
Company: Miskin Creative Graphics Junior Dept.
We are looking for professional designers to create childrens books for our upcoming Editors Choice
Competition. The final product must be both a physical and a ready for print childrens book with a minimum of
8 pages. You also need to produce an A3 portfolio sketchbook; which is backing up your research, studies and
developments. This project will represent Equality and Diversity. You are to study global history of art and
design as well as well as childrens books designs, and present your findings in your sketchbooks. You should
experiment with a range of drawing, painting and graphic media techniques inspired by your research and
observational studies. You need to focus particularly on the human body and all the diverse forms, shapes and
expressions we make up. You also need to study objects from nature, animals, man made objects and buildings
to prepare for development of surroundings scenes in your story. When you have chosen who you will use as a
base for your characters; you need to show the steps you make in the development from reality to comic,
childrens book character and describe how you change them proportionally and visually.
Your story could be funny, scary, dramatic, romantic, ethnical, ethical, cultural, and educational or a fantasy
story with a message. The book could be any size or shape and you could incorporate a pop up feature if you
wish. You must define the age group you are aiming your design to before hand. You will also create a digital
version of each page, ready for print. Images of all your work must be submitted in your Tumblr Blog before or
on deadline.

Brief IVd by Marie McGovan

Moni Aksdal

Miskin Arts
TASKS:
This is what you need to do in your sketch books CHECK TASK GRIDS FOR GRADING CITERIA and BLUE highlighted
words you need to learn and understand
TITLE PAGE: FROM REALITY TO COMICS Unit 1 and Unit 2
The title page should always be relevant to the project content and look colourful and inviting.
INTRODUCTION
Write briefly and in your own words what this project is about. What will the following pages contain?
SPIDER DIAGRAMS - Unit 1 and Unit 2
Brain storm and think outside the box. You can add small drawings if you want
OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES OF FACES Unit 1and Unit 2
Showing evidence of using a range of techniques, tools, materials and media inspired by artists and relevant research Annotations with
formal elements
OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES OF BODIES Unit 1 and Unit 2
Showing evidence of using a range of techniques, tools, materials and media inspired by artists and relevant research Annotations with
formal elements
OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES OF OBJECTS/ NATURE/ ANIMALS / ARCHITECTURE Unit 1 and Unit 2
Showing evidence of using a range of techniques, tools, materials and media inspired by artists and relevant research Annotations with
formal elements

TIME LINE FOR CONTEXTUAL STUDIES Unit 5

Show a detailed time line where you indicate the periods in art and design in which represents a particular change, movement or
influence in history
PRESENT RESEARCH FROM A RANGE OF HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY VISUAL MOVEMENTS
Unit 5 and Unit 1 and Unit 2
Such movements could be your chosen studies from; Ancient History, and Middle Ages, Renaissance, Tudor, Baroque, Rococo,
Victorian etc. For modern and contemporary studies you should focus on a selection from the 19th century e.g. Romanticism, Realism,
Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, Expressionism, Arts and Crafts Movement, Art Nouveau, and the 20th century e.g.
Fauvism, Cubism, Futurism, Dada, Surrealism, Bauhaus, Art Deco, Social Realism, Constructivism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art,
Modernism, Post-Modernism, Punk Art; Brit Art; Performance Art, Installation Art, Outsider Art; 21st century e.g. digital, internet,
globalisation significant, International cultures.

Create own responses to all the research, ask for help sheet!
MOOD BOARD OF INSPIRATIONAL GRAPHIC IMAGE MAKING ARTISTS Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 37
One or two full pages mood board(s), packed with images that inspires your ideas.
CREATE AND PRESENT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT STEP 1 Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 37
Select and show graphic image making techniques to present the first step in the development of characters for you cartoon strip or
childrens book. The first step should look as realistic as possible, both portraits and full body
CREATE AND PRESENT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT STEP 2 Unit 1, Unit 2. Unit 37and Unit 12
Select and show graphic image making techniques to present the next step in the development of characters looking slightly more like
comic or childrens book characters. Here in step 2, they should look like a hybrid half way between reality and your cartoon.
Incorporate digital media for this task. Scanning, cleaning images and working in layers in Photo Shop
CREATE AND PRESENT FINAL CARTOON CHARACTHERS STEP 3 Unit 37 and Unit 12
Select and show graphic image making techniques to present the final design of you comic or childrens book characters. Make sure
they are suitable for the nature and genre of your story. Show details of facial expressions and body language. Different moods are
important. Incorporate digital media for final characters. Add annotations

HALF TERM----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brief IVd by Marie McGovan

Moni Aksdal

Miskin Arts
ANALYSIS OF THE BRIEF Unit 1, Unit 37 and Unit 12
How to Analyse a Brief sheet will be provided. You also find it in the How to blog in Tumblr. If you havent been given assistance here,
please ask. Write, save and print your analysis document. Your analysis can also be uploaded in Tumblr. Ask for help if need be.
PRESENT INSPIRATIONAL, RELEVANT WORK FROM ARTISTS AND WRITE CRITICAL STUDIES Unit 1, Unit 5 and Unit 12
Use good quality printed images from historical or contemporary comic or childrens book artists/ designers that you find
interesting. To help you here you will be provided help on Tumblr under How to write Critical Studies. Printed sheets are available, so
please ask. You might need a Formal Elements sheet here as well. Please Ask
.
STORY LINE Unit 37
Sketch up simple drawings and describe what happens in your story. Create a manuscript where you enter; what is being said by
who in each book page/ frame. Explain how you will enter camera angles, movement and backgrounds. Remember you can use
onomatopoeia (words that are sounds Woof, Snap) in your story
SPECIFICATION Unit 37
Plan of action: First you should write a detailed step by step list of how you will create you designs. Add what kind of graphic media
techniques, digital techniques, tools and materials you are going to use either for your A3 cartoon strip OR your childrens book,
alternative pop-up or other 3D feature. Be specific about sizes (measurements) and shapes, choice of fonts for the text and title. You
can use some drawings or diagrams to show what you are planning to do as well.
Specification: Use provided How to write a Specification sheet, or find it on Tumblr.
DISPLAY FIRST DESIGN DEVELOPMENTS Unit 1, Unit 37 and Unit 12
Display all your work in a range of techniques, materials and formal elements when presenting your design development. Add
annotations on the progress and suggest how improvement or make changes to your comic strip design or childrens book.
Health and safety
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ASSESSMENT PERIOD 3 WEEKS

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DISPLAY ALTERNATIVE DESIGN IDEAS AND INCORPORATE SCENES, OBJECTS OR/ AND BUILDINGS
Unit 1 and Unit 12
Display all your other alternative design ideas: Try different ideas, or improve your ideas by using other technique and tools you
might find more suited. Always use comments to justify your developmental choices and add commentary.
Refine these ideas by using other formal elements. Health and safety recordings!
DISPLAY FINAL GRAPHIC MEDIA DESIGN OUTCOME Unit 1 and Unit 12
Final design before digitising plus ghost drawing and images in which you will use as the digital base layers
COMPUTERS IN ART AND DESIGN Unit 12
For a digital outcome you should firstly describe the uses of computers in the design and art industry, and what is available out there for
digital artists and designers. Use your imagination and research skills to find out more about how computers can be used to promote
creativity. Look at how this is done around the world. International trends are very strong in this context.
DIGITISE YOUR DESIGN - Unit 12
Scan, print, copy or photograph your designs to be able to manipulate and adjust them ready for print.
In this project we will concentrate on a creative use of Photo Shop. Well look at the use of tools, colours, effects and filters. So we will
work in formats such as JPEG or PSD (layers), colour settings and pixel values. You need to think about what is the best way of input
for digitising your design. Sometimes its a good idea to use something called ghost drawing. Other times you might want to use the
graphic media techniques you have already used but enhance them in Photo Shop. Sky is the limit!
PRINT AND DISPLAY YOUR FINAL DESIGN COMIC STRIP OR CHILDRENS BOOK Unit 12
The final designs of each page of your childrens book in real measurement needs to be uploaded in Tumblr and printed, fully
coloured in your portfolio/ sketchbook. Add photos you have taken of the physical proto type of the book you have built. The comic
strip should be shown in example where it could be used and made ready for exhibition.
Remember this is presented to your client. The more options you show, the better your marks. Dont bet all on one horse!
EVALUATION Unit 1 and 12
Find How to Evaluate in Tumblr or ask for a printed sheet to help you.
Discuss how your final designs are answering the design brief, and focus on the recording in art and design as well as computers in art
and design. Health and safety attention must be documented at all times.

Brief IVd by Marie McGovan

Moni Aksdal

Miskin Arts
UNIT DESCRIPTIONS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES:
UNIT 1: Visual Recording in Art and Design (FINAL ASSESSMENT)
This Unit aims to extend learners ability to select and visually record from a range of sources in order
to communicate information to different audiences, using appropriate presentation methods and for a
range of specific purposes.
1. Know how to identify sources for visual recording
2. Be able to record visually
3. Understand visual recording in others work
4. Understand own visual recording
5. Be able to develop visual recording to produce outcomes
Unit 2: Materials, Techniques and Processes in Art and design (IN PART)
The aim of the unit is to develop learners skills and understanding in working safely and creatively
with the materials, techniques and processes associated with their specialist pathway
1. Be able to explore materials, techniques and processes safely
2. Be able to use materials, techniques and processes
3. Understand the suitability of materials, techniques and processes
UNIT 5: Contextual Influences in Art and Design (IN PART)
The aim of the unit is to develop learners skills and knowledge of how historical and cultural
influences inform art, craft and design. Learners will achieve this by researching and recording
information, whilst developing critical and analytical skills, and relating this to their own developing
practice.
1. Know about key developments and influences in art, craft and design
2. Be able to research and record historical, contemporary and contextual information
3. Be able to review, produce and present outcomes from contextual sources
UNIT 12: Computers in Art and Design (FINAL ASSESSMENT)
This unit will enable learners to develop skills and understanding of the use of computers in art and
design. They will research existing applications of computer use, and develop creative responses
through their own study and production of computer-based art and design work.
1. Understand the potential of digital media in contemporary art and design practice
2. Be able to select materials for digital experimentation
3. Be able to produce work using digital art and design techniques
UNIT 37: Graphic Media Techniques and Technology ( IN PART)
The aim for this unit is to enable learners to develop knowledge and skills in the different ways
graphic media is used in the creative industry. Learners will be investigating and experimenting with a
variety of techniques and technologies and using them to produce their own graphic outcome.
1. Know about graphic media, techniques and technology
2. Be able to use graphic media, techniques and technology within own design work
3. Be able to present design outcomes using graphic media, techniques and techniques

Brief IVd by Marie McGovan

Moni Aksdal

Miskin Arts

GENERAL TASKS:

Make a detailed time management plan to make sure you keep the deadline
Gather as much information you can based around the theme through drawing, photography, collecting visual information from magazines,
exhibitions, newspapers etc.
Primary sources:
your own photographs, drawings or anything else first-hand you produce. Also letters, interviews, newspaper
articles, first-hand account of the artwork (that means go and see the work if possible)
Secondary sources:
Any material of analytical character which describes, and/or synthesizes primary sources (see above).
Secondary sources include reviews, reference books, textbooks, etc.
Use the library and research from relevant sources effectively and consistently.
Start making and collecting images that explore your theme.
Analysis of the Brief(s)
Develop work from your research which shows a sense of direction and strength of idea.
Learn new skills and processes as part of your investigation and research.
Complete all studio work and respond to homework requests regularly.
Provide analysis of your work.
Produce sketchbook/ port folio presentations.
Provide a proposal
Evidence of development.
Experiment with different media and techniques.
Produce outcomes.
Evaluate work in relation to the briefs.

Brief IVd by Marie McGovan

Moni Aksdal