This document outlines the Year 8 Visual Communication Design course, detailing the scope, sequence, and assessment tasks such as illustration projects and rendering techniques. It emphasizes the importance of organization, respect, and care for art materials, while introducing fundamental design elements and the design process. Students are expected to engage in various drawing exercises, complete a final illustration project, and evaluate their work based on provided criteria.

1. Introduction
Visual Communication
Design yr 8

2. Scope and Sequence VCD
 Course outline
 “Look at me” stickers (typography and perspective) 30%
 “Robo in house” (narrative, 3D and aesthetics)30%
 “Water is life” (Logo, design process, analysis) 40%

3. VCD expectations
• Bring your iPad and Visual Diary.
• Bring pencil case with lead pencils (HB,B,2B,4B and
6B), black fineliners (0.4 and 0.6 mm tip), rubber,
sharpener, scissor etc.
• Be punctual, well mannered and be organised
• Be cooperative, considerate and respect others
• Handle all art work with care
• Ask questions, seek advice from teacher if unsure

4.  What is Visual Communication & Design?
 Create a mindmap in your visual diary
 Which 3 main fields of practise can you think of? What
design areas are there, in which field do they belong?
Mindmap

6. Design Elements -
(Fat Cat Splat)
 Form…………….
 Tone…………………………….
 Colour………………………………………..
 Texture…………..
 Shape……………………………
 Point……………………………………………
 Line………….
 Type………………………….
 Design elements are components of visual communications.

7. Vocabulary
 Formcombining shape and value to create the illusion
of three dimensions on a flat surface
 Tone Properties to colour hue and intensity
 Colour light reflected on an object.
 Texture tactile quality of an object
 Shape lines combined to create an enclosed space
 Point mark or short line
 Line a point extended in both directions
 Type letter form

9. Drawing shapes
Warming up
exercise:
Stand behind desk. Use 2B
pencil and don’t lean on
paper. Draw half a page in
your visual diary filled with
circles and the rest filled with
ellipses.

11. Rendering: Gradient ladders
Use a ruler, 2H/H, B/2B pencil and 4B/6B pencil
Draw an outline of rectangle shape (15cm x 2 cm)
Go from light to dark using different pencils.
Aim for smooth tonal transitions
Don’t smudge the rendered areas!

12. Rendering techniques

14. Use rendering to make forms look 3D
Study terminology
complete HL task

15. Home learning activity 2B

16. Isometric drawing

17. Activity 3: Observational drawing of geometrical
objects and Isometric drawing
 Sketch a minimum of 3
geometrical forms from
observation and draw these forms
also in an isometric way.
 Analyse the form, its proportions
and structural lines.
 Sketch the form and define the
outline.
 Make another sketch of what the
object would look like in an
isometric way of drawing it.
 Annotation: Write down which
drawing is observational and
which one is isometric.

18. :The Design Process:
 The Brief (identify client, needs, purpose..)
 Research (collecting ideas, information, ..)
 Generation of ideas (exploring design ideas, use
imagination, visualisation)
 Development of concepts (select preferred idea and apply
range of methods, materials media..)
 Refinement of ideas (modify visual communications in
response to feedback and evaluation)
 Development of visual presentation (presenting final
outcome)

19. Drawing task: (30%)
“Robo in house”
Follow the steps of the design process.
Show all different stages of the creation of your illustration. From the brief to
presentation of the final artwork.
1. Brief: Create an illustration which communicates a story about a robot in
a house, using isometry and rendering techniques.
2. Research: Find inspirational images from artists (Pic Collage)
3. Generation of ideas: Use different rendering techniques, draw 2D and
3D shapes, make sketches first. Brain storm page
4. Development of concept: selection of 1 sketch and rendering technique
5. Refinement: focus on proportions of shapes in the house and rendering
technique. Take photos before and after you change things.
6. Resolution of presentation/ presentation of final illustration: mounted
in A4 mount.
7. Student evaluation: use evaluation questions
Due: week 4

20. Assessment criteria
 Design process:

 Literacy

 Final presentation

21. Inspiring artists: Jeffery Smart
The Melbourne gate 2002 The Observer II 1983 - 84
Quinces by the Sea 1998 -
2003
The Guiding Sphere’s
(Hommage to Cezanne) -
1979

22. Shaun Tan

23. Giorgio de Chirico

24. Imaginative interiors and robots

25. Student Artworks