PSEB SS Commercial Art study plan

Define and correctly use the core vocabulary of commercial art (layout, balance, contrast, harmony, rhythm, emphasis, unity) by writing one-line definitions in your own words and matching each term to a printed advertisement you find.

Identify the elements of design (line, shape, form, colour, texture, space, value) in at least fifteen real commercial examples and label them in a notebook.

Sketch three thumbnail layout variations for a simple poster brief, exploring horizontal, vertical and diagonal compositions.

Set up a personal reference file of ten advertisements you consider effective and write two sentences per piece explaining why the composition works.

Explain colour theory fundamentals: primary, secondary and tertiary colours, warm versus cool, complementary and analogous schemes, and tint, shade and tone.

Mix a colour wheel by hand and produce a value scale of at least seven steps in gouache or poster colour.

Apply three different colour schemes to the same simple logo or package shape to compare emotional effect.

Describe how colour is used to create depth, focus attention and signal brand personality in two advertisements.

Identify the main categories of typeface (serif, sans serif, script, display, slab) and match each to a suitable commercial use.

Demonstrate correct spacing: measure and adjust tracking, kerning and leading on a short headline.

Draw a hand-lettered headline in three different styles for the same product name.

Explain the difference between legibility and readability and apply both to a poster draft.

Describe the stages of the design process from brief to final artwork: briefing, research, thumbnails, roughs, comprehensive layout, final artwork and reproduction.

Write a mock client brief for a small business and translate it into a written design rationale.

Produce a rough layout and a finished comprehensive layout for the same brief, showing the progression.

Compare a rough and a finished layout and list at least five specific decisions that changed between them.

Explain the difference between raster and vector graphics and state which is appropriate for logos, photographs and large-format printing.

State common print specifications: A-series paper sizes, bleed, trim, safe margin, resolution in dpi and CMYK versus RGB colour modes.

Prepare a one-page artwork file to a stated specification (A4, 3 mm bleed, 300 dpi, CMYK) and check it against a written checklist.

Identify at least four common print faults (low resolution, missing bleed, RGB colour shift, unoutlined fonts) and describe how to prevent each.

List the main advertising media (newspaper, magazine, outdoor, transit, point of sale, digital) and state one strength and one limitation of each.

Analyse how a single campaign adapts its message across three different media formats.

Design a poster and a matching social media square for one product, keeping visual consistency.

Explain the role of a logo, a tagline and a call to action within a single advertisement.

Practise timed execution: complete a full poster layout from brief to finished rough within 90 minutes, twice.

Refine rendering skills by completing one detailed illustration or package visual in the medium you will use in the exam.

Self-assess both timed pieces against a written rubric covering layout, colour, typography, originality and finish.

Correct the three weakest points identified in your self-assessment and rework one piece.

Recall and write out the theory syllabus from memory: elements and principles of design, colour theory, typography, print processes and advertising media.

Answer at least thirty short theory questions under timed conditions and mark them against your notes.

Produce one final full exam simulation under real time limits with no reference material.

Review every error from the simulation and record the corrected fact in a one-page revision sheet.