New
New
Year 10

Cultivating a unique design concept

I can generate unique design concepts that reflect my identity, interests and influences.

New
New
Year 10

Cultivating a unique design concept

I can generate unique design concepts that reflect my identity, interests and influences.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Design concepts reflect personal identity, values, and influences.
  2. A unique design concept begins with self-reflection and intentional visual choices.
  3. Personal experiences can inspire original and meaningful graphic design.

Keywords

  • Concept - a central idea or theme that drives the visual direction and message of a design

  • Originality - the quality of being new, unique, or different from others’ work

  • Visual identity - a collection of visual elements (e.g. colour, imagery, typography) that express a designer’s or brand’s personality

Common misconception

A design concept is just choosing what looks good.

A strong design concept isn’t just about appearance - it reflects a deeper idea or message you want to communicate. What you choose to show should connect to your personal voice and purpose.


To help you plan your year 10 art and design lesson on: Cultivating a unique design concept, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Encourage students to dig deeper than surface aesthetics - ask probing questions like "Why is this meaningful to you?" to guide them toward a more authentic and personal design concept.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Sketchbooks, pencils, fine liners, coloured pencils, scissors, glue, access to printed imagery/magazines, digital devices (if available).

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a mood board used for in design?

To show personal achievements in design
Correct answer: To display colours and visuals that inspire your project
To track time spent on a design project
To present final outcomes for a design

Q2.
Which of the following is not a design element?

Typography
Shape
Correct answer: Budget
Colour

Q3.
What does 'visual language' mean in graphic design?

Correct answer: The way visual elements communicate meaning
The use of pictures instead of words
A foreign language you include in posters
Handwriting style in posters

Q4.
What is annotation used for in a design sketchbook?

To draw extra pictures
To fill in blank space
To practice handwriting
Correct answer: To describe and reflect on creative decisions

Q5.
Why might a designer choose a certain colour palette?

Because the colours are free to use
Correct answer: Because colours carry emotional or symbolic meaning
Because there are a limited number of colours to choose from
Because colours don’t matter in design

Q6.
When explaining your design concept, it’s most important to ...

mention as many artists as possible.
talk about what is popular on social media.
Correct answer: connect your choices to personal ideas or messages.
list every colour you used.

Additional material

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