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Why study Art and Design?
Art and Design features in many aspects of our everyday lives, from the advertising posters we see on our streets to the special effects we see in films. Almost everything we see or touch has been designed to be visually attractive including mobile phones, clothes, cars, buildings and websites.
The skills that you develop in Art and Design are useful in many different careers, such as architecture: interior design, fashion and textiles, graphics, web design and photography.
What do I need to get in?
Entry is at the discretion of the school or college but you would normally have achieved:
What will I study?
Art and Design is a practical, hands-on subject that develops your creativity and imagination, and your artistic skills. You will learn how to use a range of art and design materials and techniques. And, you will learn the skills involved in planning, producing and presenting art and design work. You will also find out how artists and designers work, and how factors like their environment and culture have an impact on their work.
The course has two compulsory units. The units are similar to those for National 4 but you will be expected to produce a higher standard of work.
Art and Design: Expressive Activity (9 SCQF credit points)
In this unit you will:
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develop their personal thoughts and ideas in visual form
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develop critical understanding of artists’ working practices and the social and cultural influences affecting their work
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select stimuli and produce analytical drawings and studies
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develop and refine your expressive ideas and artwork
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experiment with and use a range of materials, techniques and/or technology in 2D and/or 3D formats when responding to stimuli.
Art and Design: Design Activity (9 SCQF credit points)
In this unit you will:
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plan, research and develop creative design work in response to a design brief
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develop your creativity, problem solving and critical thinking skills as you consider design opportunities, and work to resolve design issues and constraints
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develop critical understanding of designers’ working practices and the main social and cultural influences affecting their work
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experiment with, develop and refine your design ideas, using a range of materials, techniques and/or technology in 2D and/or 3D formats.
Note: Both of these units may be taken with a Scottish Context option, which contributes towards the Scottish Studies Award.
How will I be assessed?
Course Assessment (6 SCQF credit points)
Units will be assessed internally by your teacher or lecturer as 'pass' or 'fail'. Your work will be assessed on an ongoing basis throughout the course. Items of work might include:
- practical activities – such as drawings, posters, ceramics or sculptures
- written work – such as research assignments
- projects
- question papers/tests.
Units do not contribute to your overall grade but you will need to pass both units plus a course assessment to be awarded the course qualification.
There are two parts or 'components' to the course assessment:
- a portfolio (160 marks)
- an examination question paper (40 marks)
The portfolio is set by your school and the examination question paper is set by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). Both components will be externally marked by SQA.
The course assessment is graded A-D.
What can I go on to next?
If you complete the course successfully, it may lead to:
Further study, training or employment in:
Which jobs are related to this subject?
Where can my parents find out more?
Your school will give your parents an Options or Choices information booklet, which has detailed information on the curriculum and the individual subjects or courses you can study. It will also invite them along to a Parents’ Information Evening.
They can also read the information leaflet(s):
Nationals in a Nutshell - Art and Design (National 5)