Visual Art Design Year 9

This course builds on the creative foundations developed in Years 7 and 8, and introduces students to the world of Visual Art and Design through a hands-on, practical approach. Offered as a two-term option subject, this course gives students the opportunity to explore both 2D and 3D media while developing their visual thinking and creative confidence.

Students will begin by strengthening their drawing and colour skills, with an emphasis on visual elements such as line, shape, form, texture, and typography. From there, students will be introduced to design thinking, working through creative processes to produce their own original outcomes.

What Students Will Do:

• Learn and apply key visual elements and principles

• Explore the role of typography and layout in visual communication

• Create typographic portraits, posters, and respond to Pacific and Māori design influences

• Experiment with a range of media and techniques, from traditional drawing and painting to design-focused making

• Develop their own visual ideas in response to the work of contemporary artists and designers

Course Focus:

• Encouraging creative thinking and individual expression

• Understanding how design is used to communicate meaning and identity

• Providing a strong foundation for further study in Year 10 Visual Art – Design and beyond