icon-background-square
New
New
Year 5

Graphic design: the art of letters

I can explore and create letter designs using graphic design principles.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 5

Graphic design: the art of letters

I can explore and create letter designs using graphic design principles.

warning

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

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Typography involves the style and appearance of letters
  2. Different styles and techniques can convey various emotions and messages
  3. Graphic design principles can enhance the visual impact of letters

Keywords

  • Graphic design - the art or skill of combining text and pictures in advertisements, magazines, or books

  • Typography - arranging letters and text in a way that makes them readable and visually appealing

  • Font - the size and weight of letters

  • Typeface - a set of letters that share a similar shape and design

  • Style - letters or art with a distinctive appearance

Common misconception

Letters are only used for reading

Letters can be used to make interesting and beautiful designs


To help you plan your year 5 art and design lesson on: Graphic design: the art of letters, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Encourage children to identify different typography examples, and ask them to consider how the design is appropriate for its purpose. It may be helpful to have different types of printed text and graphic design examples such as newspapers, books and magazines available for pupils to have a look at.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

copyright

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

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
Which tool is commonly used for sketching?
Brush
Chisel
Correct answer: Pencil
Q2.
Which of these are formal elements of art and design?
Contrast, balance and emphasis
Correct answer: Line, shape, and colour
Sound, light, and texture
Q3.
Where might you find examples of text?
Correct answer: On a street sign
On a picture frame
On a natural form
In a landscape painting
Q4.
Why are basic shapes important in design?
They add texture to designs
Correct answer: They form the structure of designs
They make designs colourful
Q5.
How can colours impact design?
Correct answer: They convey emotions and messages
They define the size of text
They determine the material used
Q6.
What does familiarity with fonts help with?
Adding texture to surfaces
Correct answer: Choosing appropriate styles for different purposes
Increasing the size of images

6 Questions

Q1.
Graphic design is the art or skill of combining __________ and __________ in advertisements, magazines, or books.
Correct answer: text and pictures
pencils and brushes
computers and digital tools
Q2.
What does typography involve?
Correct answer: Arranging text with font, size, and spacing
Constructing 3D models
Creating images with ink
Q3.
Typography can help to make letters more readable, but it can also be used to make __________ and __________ designs.
random and nonsensical
flat and regular
Correct answer: interesting and beautiful
Q4.
Why is balance important in graphic design?
Correct answer: It helps create harmony between elements
It reduces cost of production
It means the most important information can be read first
Q5.
__________, balance and emphasis are three graphic design principles.
Colour
Correct answer: Contrast
Creativity
Q6.
What quality does this letter design convey?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Energy/Speed
3D/Form
Sadness/Disappointment