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.