Art – 3D Design

Key Contact:  Alex Martin – axm@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk

Creative Design at The Gryphon allows students to immerse themselves in all
aspects of design, through a broad and dynamic creative curriculum. The emphasis
is upon students experiencing the roles of professional creatives, through a myriad
of key projects, learning how it would be to work in this exciting industry. All of the
projects covered follow the practices of professionals in key vocations of creative
art and design and each element of the curriculum builds skills and confidence,
leading to unique experiences and outcomes. KS3 fulfils all of the practical skills
and experiences for students to progress effectively to KS4, where Creative Design
evolves into Three-dimensional design. Year 9 can be considered as a foundation
year to the GCSE.

Please explore the links below to find out more about A Level Art 3D at The
Gryphon School, including the exciting opportunities, experiences, and creative
pathways available to our students.

Art 3D Explained
A Level Art 3D
Year 10 Visit to Roche Court Sculpture Park – June 2026

Course Content

Year 7

Half Terms 1, 2 & 3: Architecture Reimagined. Students study the work of Architects
Will Alsop, Zaha Hadid and the MVRDV Architect Collective to explore architecture
in its broadest and most expressive sense, developing technical drawing skills,
professional industrial design concept drawing, rapid prototyped card models
leading to an architectural scale model, using a range of materials and textures.

Half Terms 4, 5 & 6: Fantastic Beasts. Students consider ‘Fantastic Beasts’ in the
real world, myths, legends and fantasy. They study the work of professional
Concept Artists Terryl Whitlatch and Ellen Jewett and explore observation drawing
and ideas development using a wide range of media, progressing through to 3D
wire armature modelling and DAS clay, leading to a completed mixed media
sculpted creature.

Year 8

Half Terms 1, 2 & 3: Set Design. Students explore the world of Production Design,
focusing upon set design for Film, TV and video games. They study the work of
Award winning designer Stuart Craig, being introduced to professional concept art
drawing for creating their designs. Work progresses into a 3D rapid prototype and
culminates in a final mixed media set design model of a favourite scene from their
chosen genre.

Half Terms 4, 5 & 6: Figures in Motion. Students are introduced to human
anatomical structure, studying proportion and drawing using the techniques of
Leonardo Da Vinci and other key artists. Students explore the Futurist Movement
interpretation of capturing motion and also consider the costume of their
character, analysing the work of Jack Kirby & Alexander McQueen before embarking
upon involved 3D wire, mod roc plaster bandage and mixed media sculptures
which capture the expressive gestures of figures in motion.

Year 9

Half Terms 1, 2 & 3: All students take part in a series of exciting workshops during
the first 20 weeks of the course. These workshops introduce a wide range of artists
and designers, including Michael Brennand-Wood, Peter Anton, Kitty Shepherd,
Ranti Bam, Nick Park and Andrew Logan, alongside many more inspiring creatives.
Students will experiment with a wide variety of materials and processes, producing
outcomes such as ceramics, realistic food sculptures, character design, jewellery,
sculpture and installations. Through a combination of independent and
collaborative projects, students will develop their creative confidence, refine their
practical skills, and explore new ways of thinking and making.

Half Terms 4, 5 & 6: Extreme Shelters. Students are introduced to professional
Industrial Design, through the theme of a designer building located in an extreme
environment. They practice professional marker pen drawing, referencing the work
of top designer Reid Schlegel, developing thumbnail designs, progressing through
marker pen renders and culminating in a final design, including a scale model
environment, which is created in 3D using a wide range of materials including
cardboard, mod roc plaster, sand and ink.

Assessment

Students will complete 3 assessment tasks each year in KS3. These tasks will be in
the form of a specific drawing task, extended writing (Artist/ Designer analysis) and
final design development (inc. drawing and annotation). The Assessment headings
are as follows:

Year 7

• Assessment 1: Drawing task
• Assessment 2: Literacy task
• Assessment 3: Design task

Year 8:

• Assessment 1: Drawing task
• Assessment 2: Literacy task
• Assessment 3: Design task

Year 9:

• Assessment 1: Drawing task
• Assessment 2: Literacy task
• Assessment 3: Design task

Homework

Students will be set 1 piece of homework per term (Title/ Mind map, Complete
design ideas, Complete making process) for Creative Design in KS3. This homework
will include drawing, literacy and design development. All homework will be set via
Teams.

Key Stage 4 Subject overview

Art and Design: Three-dimensional Design

Key Contact:  Alex Martin – axm@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk

Syllabus Information:  Students study AQA Art and Design: Three-dimensional Design

Course Content

Year 10

• Half Term 1-2: Workshops
• Half Term 2-3: Workshops
• Half Term 3-4: Techno-Verse
• Half Term 4-5: Techno-Verse
• Half Term 5-6: Sustained Project

Year 11

• Half Term 1: Sustained Project
• Half Term 2: Sustained Project (Concluding with 5hr Mock Examination)
• Half Term 3: Externally Set Assignment
• Half Term 4: Externally Set Assignment (Concluding with 5hr Examination)
• Half Term 5: Revision (for other subjects, once course has concluded)

Assessment

Students will complete all sketchbook research and accompanying 3D outcomes
for the 12 assessment tasks across Years 10 and 11. At the end of each term,
coursework is reviewed and assessed as a complete body of work rather than on
individual pages or outcomes. This provides students with the most accurate
predicted grade possible, alongside detailed written and verbal feedback to help
them identify next steps, make improvements, and stay on track for success
throughout the course.

Homework

Students will be set homework once per fortnight minimum. Homework tasks will
include specific project related research, literacy and drawing, prototyping,
together with completion of classwork.

Useful information, links and resources

AQA | Art and Design | Subject content | Three-dimensional design
How your work is assessed: AQA | GCSE | Art and Design | Scheme of assessment