A Level Art, Craft and Design Eduqas

Art, Craft, and Design

Personal Investigation

• Understand that the Personal Investigation forms a major part of your final portfolio and consists of two elements: a structured sequence of annotated work and an extended written inquiry.

Choosing a Topic

• Begin by selecting an engaging topic that resonates with your personal interests and lets you explore your creativity in depth.
• Make sure your chosen project is broad enough to allow for detailed exploration but not so wide that it becomes unfocused.
• The selected topic must hold potential for critical and reflective investigation.

Annotated Work

• Develop a body of work that demonstrates consistent use of Art, Craft and Design techniques.
• Show breadth and depth in your piece, displaying a range of materials, techniques and processes.
• Use annotation to critically analyse your work, evaluating your own progress, methods, and ideas.
• Include regular comparisons to relevant artists, designers or craftspeople to demonstrate contextual understanding.

Written Inquiry

• Produce a written element of 1000–3000 words that supports your practical work.
• This should be a detailed exploration of related themes, ideas, issues or debates in relation to your selected project.
• Ensure coherence between your practical and written work by connecting your research, analysis, and reflections with your chosen topic.
• Don’t treat the written component as separate to your art; they are to be integrated and cross-referenced.

Research and Resources

• Apply rigorous and thorough research towards your selected theme, drawing from a wide variety of sources.
• Engage with contemporary and historical practitioners, making use of museums, galleries or collections.
• Use of primary and secondary sources is crucial and helps deepen your understanding of the topic.

Presentation and Evaluation

• Demonstrate an individual, coherent and mature response in your final project, ensuring it is well-organised.
• Regularly review and refine your work, showing awareness of formal elements and how they contribute to the success of your work.
• Critically evaluate your process and final outcome, discussing strengths, weaknesses, and potential improvements. Consider what you have learnt and how it might inform your future work.