South Africa Design Syllabus (Grades 10-12)

This syllabus outlines the curriculum for Design in South African schools, covering Grades 10-12. It emphasizes a creative problem-solving approach, incorporating both design practice and theory. The curriculum aims to develop learners' visual language skills, technical abilities, and critical thinking, while fostering an understanding of design's social and historical contributions.

The curriculum is structured around three core topics, revisited each term with increasing complexity:

1. Design Process and Influencing Factors: This involves understanding and applying the design process, including working from a brief, investigating context, generating ideas, prototyping, evaluating solutions, and appreciating design's impact. It also covers influencing factors like aesthetics, functionality, responsible design practices, and drawing skills. Integrated within this topic is "Design in a Business Context," requiring research on topics such as marketing, target markets, and the social responsibility of designers.

2. Design Production, Time Management, and Safe Practice: This focuses on the practical creation and presentation of design products. Learners are expected to demonstrate competence in chosen materials and techniques, apply the design process, and effectively communicate their solutions. Time management and safe working practices are also emphasized.

3. Design Theory: This encompasses design literacy (terminology and theory), history of design (exploring various movements and styles), and design in a socio-cultural, environmental, and sustainable context.

Grade 10: Introduces fundamental design principles, processes, and categories. Learners explore basic drawing skills, visual communication, and the history of design, including classical design and the Industrial Revolution. Research modules focus on trends, visual merchandising, and target markets.

Grade 11: Builds upon Grade 10, introducing more complex practical tasks and specialized projects. Learners further develop drawing skills, explore universal design principles, and delve deeper into design history, covering movements like Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, and Art Deco. Research modules involve analyzing advertising campaigns, investigating career opportunities, and presenting design products/services.

Grade 12: Focuses on refining design skills and understanding the broader impact of design. Learners apply their knowledge to open-ended briefs, demonstrating proficiency in chosen materials and techniques. They explore contemporary design movements (Pop/New Age, Post-modernism) and investigate the designer's role in addressing social, cultural, environmental, and ethical issues. Research modules cover marketing, career opportunities, and the work of award-winning designers.

Assessment: Assessment is both informal (daily monitoring) and formal (recorded tasks). Formal assessment includes practical projects (PATs), research assignments ("Design in a Business Context"), tests, and examinations. The weighting of practical to theoretical assessment is 60:40. Grade 12 includes externally set and moderated examinations.

Specialised Focus: From Grade 11, a specialized field of focus is recommended, chosen from:

1. Visual Communication/Information Design and/or Digital Design 2. Surface Design and Two-dimensional Craft Design 3. Product Design and Three-dimensional Craft Design 4. Environmental Design

This detailed syllabus provides a comprehensive framework for design education in South Africa, equipping learners with the creative, technical, and critical thinking skills necessary for success in the field.