Developing a vector product
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can plan and design a vector product for a given project.
Key learning points
- You can plan a design for a vector product by sketching ideas or listing what shapes and tools you will use.
- A vector image can be created by using a mixture of shapes and tools.
- To evaluate a product you should check whether your final design meets the goal you planned at the start.
Keywords
Logo - a graphic that visually communicates brand identity
Illustration - an image that clearly represents the thing it is
Icon - an image relevant to the navigation or menu it represents
Common misconception
You don’t need a plan before starting a vector design — you can just make it up as you go.
Planning helps you focus your design and choose the right tools and shapes before you start. Without a plan, it's easy to miss the goal or waste time making unnecessary changes.
Teacher tip
Before pupils begin creating their vector product, ask them to annotate their plan with the specific tools or shapes they intend to use (e.g. “ellipse for wheels”, “Bezier tool for roof line”). This encourages purposeful design decisions and makes evaluation easier later on.
Equipment
Pupils will need access to a device with vector graphic editing software. Examples in this lesson use Inkscape https://oak.link/inkscape
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a layer in vector graphics?
Q2.What does grouping objects allow you to do?
Q3.What does the combine function do in vector graphics?
Q4.What do we call the points that mark the start, end, or bends in a path?
Q5.Arrange these steps for editing a path:
Q6.What does freehand mean when drawing in vector graphics?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is one benefit of planning your vector design before you start?
Q2.Match each keyword to its correct description:
an image that represents an organisation or brand
an image that clearly shows what something is
an image used for navigation or menus
Q3.What do we call the preparation step where you sketch ideas or list shapes and tools before starting a vector design project?
Q4.Which statement about planning a vector design is correct?
Q5.What is the process called when you check whether your finished vector design meets the goal you planned at the start?
Q6.Arrange these steps for evaluating a vector product:
To help you plan your 8 computing lesson on: Developing a vector product, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 computing lesson on: Developing a vector product, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 computing lessons from the Developing vector graphics unit, dive into the full secondary computing curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.