Assessment Specifications
Level 2 Design and Visual Communication 2023
General information
Domain |
Design and Visual Communication |
Method of assessment |
Portfolio submission |
Standards |
Information relating to all achievement standards
Assessment will be in the form of a portfolio of evidence for each standard selected from a normal design and visual communication programme. A portfolio is an organised collection of selected evidence that communicates the candidate’s knowledge and understandings relevant to the external design and visual communication standards the candidate has entered. For each standard, candidates should select only the material that represents their best work, for the externally assessed achievement standards for inclusion in the portfolio.
Original copies or high-quality photocopies should be presented for assessment.
All material submitted should not exceed A3 (297 × 420 mm) in size. Larger pages must be folded to A3 size.
The following presentation formats are recommended:
- A3 pages
- digital submissions – in a PDF, PowerPoint, HTML, or QuickTime format on CD-ROM.
- Note: Work that can be printed on paper should not be put on a CD ROM. The only work that should be on CD ROM is when candidates are submitting an animated presentation or video.
- Digital submissions for 91338 can be submitted using NZQA’s digital external upload. Schools are required to store securely a backup copy (or originals) of all digital submissions. Schools are required to virus-check digital submitted material.
The following are not acceptable:
- visual diaries
- submission material contained in clear files
- laminated materials
- additional packaging, e.g. boxes
- models – only photographs are to be submitted
- submissions submitted electronically on USB flash drives or MP3 players.
The work presented for assessment should be free of teacher comments, marks, or grades that may have been applied.
Candidates must develop their ideas within the context of a design brief. Given briefs may focus on (but are not limited to) such areas as:
- spatial design – architectural or environmental design
- product design – engineering or technological design.
The design ideas must have identifiable functional and aesthetic qualities.
Work submitted for each standard must show design ideas that are student-generated responses to a design brief. Classroom exercises should not be included in the work to be assessed.
For Achievement Standards 91338 and 91339, instrumental drawings may be computer-generated drawings of their own design.
Also refer to the exemplars, assessment reports, and assessment schedules on the DVC subject page.
Submission instructions and authenticity requirements will be provided for schools at the end of Term 2 on the DVC subject page.
Writer assistance
Writer assistance is excluded from all external achievement standards. This is due to the nature of drawing and design, and visual communication. Any queries regarding this must be addressed to NZQA through the Principal’s Nominee.
Specific information for individual achievement standards
Standard |
91337 |
Title |
Use visual communication techniques to generate design ideas |
Version |
3 |
Number of credits |
3 |
A candidate's portfolio should not exceed 20 pages for this standard.
Candidates will need to select evidence that demonstrates they can use visual communication techniques to explore the functional and aesthetic qualities of the design to generate design possibilities.
Evidence for this achievement standard can be in any visual communication mode, including freehand sketching. Computer-generated drawings are an example of visual communication and can, therefore, be included in this achievement standard.
There is no longer a requirement to produce annotations (design judgments) to support the visual communication techniques, but these may help and support design ideas.
Standard |
91338 |
Title |
Produce working drawings to communicate technical details of a design |
Version |
3 |
Number of credits |
4 |
A candidate's portfolio should not exceed 7 pages for this standard.
Candidates will be required to produce two-dimensional instrumental working drawings that show their own design decisions.
Candidates will be required to produce a set of related drawings, using conventions to show complex information.
A set of related drawings refers to multiple drawings that communicate details of a design’s shape and form.
Complex information could include information not visible in the main outline, multi-component assembly detail, and complex shape and form.
Evidence for this achievement standard can be generated using either traditional drawing equipment or computer applications.
Standard |
91339 |
Title |
Produce instrumental perspective projection drawings to communicate design ideas |
Version |
3 |
Number of credits |
3 |
A candidate's portfolio should not exceed 5 pages for this standard.
Candidates will be required to produce instrumental perspective projection drawings that show their own design decisions.
Candidates will be required to produce a parallel perspective projection and/or angular perspective projection, and to apply appropriate construction, including: use of picture plane; station point; eye-level lines; ground-level lines; vanishing points; and height lines, including the set-up of the plan and elevations to indicate proof of heights.
Evidence for this achievement standard can be generated using either traditional drawing equipment or computer applications.