National Occupational Certificate: Graphic Media Designer

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Graphic Media Designer. Graphic Media Designers create and design digital, traditional or tradigital media content for various mediums such as printed content; and digital platforms such as websites, social media, video, mobile apps, and other digital communication channels.

A qualified learner will be able to

• Determine target market for graphic media and medium preferences.
• Prepare for production of graphic media mediums.
• Create and produce graphic media in preferred media for specific purposes, clients, and audiences.
• Conduct business processes related graphic media creation.

Graduate attributes

A qualified learner will demonstrate the following key attributes

• sense of urgency, adaptability
• effective team player, critical thinking
• practically orientated, customer focused
• innovative
• technology inclined and
• culturally sensitive.

Rationale

The National Occupational Certificate: Graphic Media Designer will provide qualified designers with a wide range of skills, including digital design, typography, branding, and multimedia production, making them versatile and valuable assets in the industry. Designers with this newly developed qualification will be more skilful at using the latest design software and technologies, ensuring the industry stays current and competitive.

The South African society will benefit from the contribution qualified Graphic Media Designers have on creative expression and cultural representation, reflecting South Africa's diversity and heritage through various design elements. Designers create visually appealing content that contribute to increased visual literacy and communication among the public. The National Occupational Certificate: Graphic Media Designer will add to the capacity graphic media designers need to create educational materials and awareness campaigns that inform the public about important issues such as health, safety, and social initiatives.

Graphic Media Designers, especially those in small businesses or freelancers, contribute to economic empowerment by generating income and fostering entrepreneurship. Visually appealing promotional materials and campaigns enhance sectors such as the tourism sector, attracting more visitors and promoting cultural exchange. They play a vital role in effective branding and design strategies that inform strong brand identities for businesses, increasing customer loyalty and revenue, ultimately contributing to economic stability.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL for Access to Training

Learners may use the RPL process to gain access to training opportunities for a qualification if they do not meet the formal, minimum entry requirements for admission. RPL assessment provides an alternative access route into a qualification.

Such an RPL assessment may be developed, moderated, and conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider which offers that specific qualification. Such an assessment must ensure that the learner is able to display the equivalent level of competencies required for access, based on the NQF level descriptors.

RPL for exemption

For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a qualification through any means of formal, informal or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded.

RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA)

Learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a qualification through any means of formal, informal or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded.

A valid Statement of Results is required for admission to the EISA in which confirmation of achievement is provided that all internal assessment criteria for all modules in the related curriculum document have been achieved.

Upon successful completion of the EISA, RPL learners will be issued with the QCTO certificate for the qualification. Quality Partners are responsible for ensuring the RPL mechanism and process for qualifications is approved by the QCTO.

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements

An NQF Level 3 qualification.

This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules

Knowledge Modules

• 216603-001-00-KM-01, Basic Elements and Principles of Design, Level 4, 10 Credits.
• 216603-001-00-KM-02, Principles of Visual Content Development, Level 4, 25 Credits.
• 216603-001-00-KM-03, Principles of Photography & Videography for Visual Content Developers, Level 4, 15 Credits.
• 216603-001-00-KM-04, Principles of Design Technology used by Visual Content Developers Level 4, 25 Credits.
• 216603-001-00-KM-05, Business communication and administration, Level 4, 10 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 85

Practical Skill Modules

• 216603-001-00-PM-01, Assess the Target Market to Determine Media Client, user and Audience Preferences and Requirements, Level 4, 10 Credits.
• 216603-001-00-PM-02, Conduct Pre-Production Processes in Preparation of Creating Different Media Mediums, Level 4, 15 Credits.
• 216603-001-00-PM-03, Create and Produce Media in Various Mediums for Specific Purposes, Clients, or Audiences, Level 4, 15 Credits.
• 216603-001-00-PM-04, Conduct Business Supervisory and Administration Functions, Level 4, 5 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 45

Work Experience Modules

• 216603-001-00-WM-01, Assess the Workplace Target Market to Determine Media Client, User and Audience Preferences and Requirements, Level 4, 6 Credits.
• 216603-001-00-WM-02, Conduct Pre-Production Processes in a Workplace in Preparation of Creating Graphic Media Content, Level 4, 10 Credits.
• 216603-001-00-WM-03, Create and Produce Media in a Workplace in Preferred Medium for Specific Purposes, Clients, or Audiences, Level 4, 10 Credits.
• 216603-001-00-WM-04, Observe and Report on Business Supervisory and Administration Functions, Level 4, 4 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 30

1. Demonstrate the ability to determine graphic media target market preferences.
2. Conduct pre-production processes for creating graphic media mediums.
3. Create and produce graphic media content.
4. Apply business processes related to graphic media content.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

ELO 1: Determine graphic media target market preferences.

• Analyse, interpret, and confirm client brief and/or marketing strategy that outlines the intended purpose or outcome of graphic media content to be developed by applying standard methods, procedures or techniques for unpacking client need requirements.
• Gather and interpret digital graphic media content target market preferences data.
• Analyse required digital media user experience that is required to be created by the graphic media content by gathering and selecting information from a range of sources and by applying basic processes of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
• Gather and analyse insights on user and client graphical media preferences by applying standard methods, procedures or techniques for unpacking and understanding target audience graphic media preferences.
• Prepare and present draft graphic media content by addressing the desired outcome of the content to be developed to the client using suitable methods and techniques.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

ELO 2: Conduct pre-production processes for creating graphic media mediums.

• Conceptualise visual media content using media creation tools, techniques, and software to develop pre-production drafts.
• Select and apply graphic media industry specific pre-production processes, methods, procedures, or techniques.
• Present and confirm graphic media designs, deployment requirements and resources with clients by using industry specific pre-production processes, methods, procedures, or techniques.
• Compile graphic media content production plan by applying production planning and organising principles, tools and techniques.
• Present and sign off the client's graphic media production plan and content by applying relevant methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Select and apply industry specific pre-production processes, methods, and techniques.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

ELO 3: Create and produce graphic media content.

• Apply graphic media design concepts, styles, approaches, tools, and techniques to create content.
• Format and integrate user interface platforms with graphic media content by applying, tools, procedures, and innovative techniques.
• Apply graphic media content production methods, processes, procedures, and techniques.
• Apply graphic media content design principles such as composition, colour theory & typography to refine designs applying relevant tools, techniques, and technology.
• Conduct post-production processes to finalise graphic media content by applying key principles, industry protocols, processes, tools, and techniques.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

ELO 4: Apply business processes related to graphic media content.

• Apply key terms, rules, concepts, established principles, and theories.
• Compile reports and other business documentation by applying business communications principles.
• Organise contracts and projects by applying project, pipeline, and budget management principles.
• Monitor legal compliance and ethical considerations of a production by using conventions related to intellectual property, copyright, plagiarism, cultural sensitivity, and audience impact.
• Develop, select and apply business marketing material key terms, rules, concepts, established principles, and theories.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated Formative Assessment

The Skills Development Providers will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated External Summative Assessment.

Integrated Summative Assessment

An External Integrated Summative Assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required to issue this qualification. The External Integrated Summative Assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. Additional to the written assessment the learner must also submit a portfolio of evidence compiled of outcomes achieved in the workplace.