Cambridge IGCSE Art & Design encourages a range of skills, stimulates aesthetic awareness, knowledge and critical understanding of art, and provides opportunities for learners to develop a range of skills. Crucially, a personal and independent perspective is encouraged at all times. The syllabus is designed to accommodate a wide range of abilities, materials and resources, and allows the different skills of the teaching staff to be fully used.

The syllabus appeals to learners who wish to explore practical work through a range of two- and/or three-dimensional processes and include new media and technologies in addition to traditional media and processes.