Lake
Tuggeranong
College
Committed to Quality
Graphic Design
In-class Essay
2014S1
Course:
Visual Arts (0128)
Unit:
Graphic Art/Design (71236 T), (71062 A)
Teacher:
Linzie Nardi & Mark Will
Class:
173AS1, 173TS1, 478AS1, 478TS1
Task:
In-class Essay
Value:
20%
Due Date: Week 6 2014 Double line
Overview: Integral to all visual art units is the ability to describe and analyse images developing your visual language is an important skill and enhances the ability to analyse,
interpret and judge what you see in all graphic design products.

You will be shown images and information on the design principles, colour, image
composition and poster design in the weeks prior to this assessment. From this you
can develop notes and collect other research in regards to these topics in your own
time.

On the day of the assessment you will view the graphic design image in which to write
about.

You will have a double lesson to complete the task.

You can use your VAPD with notes and research information you have gathered. You
are not to use pages printed directly from the “web”.

You must cite and source any reference that you use. Refer to Plagiarism Guidelines.
Preamble
1000 words T / 600 words A
Work Outline
Using the poster provided analyse the way the designer has used image and text to produce
the desired effect. In your argument consider readability of the text, typeface, design principles
and elements, context of the advertisement, aim, sender and purpose.
You must use correct essay format with an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
Essay Structure
Throughout your study in graphic design you need to develop skill and confidence in your
ability to communicate both verbally and in written form.
The four step method of how to communicate your understanding will develop through
class/home exercises.
1. Describe – the process of describing exactly what you can see in a design.
2. Analyse – what are the main elements, principals and compositional devices
used.
3. Interpret – to look at the meanings, the ideas behind the design.
4. Judge – how does it compare to other design works and how successful the
image is.
Here is a suggested system of integrating these four steps into an essay format.

Part 1. Introduction: Introduce the image, including also an overview of what you are
going to say in the body of the essay.

Part 2. DESCRIPTION: Describe the image plus a little more background about the
sender.

Part 3. Main Body:
ANALYSIS: This is where you analyse the image using language learnt from class. E.g.:
typeface, design principles, proximity, contrast, alignment, repetition, line, texture, colour,
composition.
INTERPRETATION: What ideas is the designer exploring? What does it mean? Your
research notes could support this.
JUDGEMENT: What is your response to the image and how was the image received by
the audience?

Part 4. Conclusion: This is a rounding up and summarising your main argument.
Work must be correctly referenced and all information that you have gained from any
source MUST be notated and included in Bibliography
Students will be assessed on the attached criteria:

Critical analysis

Visual literacy

Effective communication.