Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)
2021 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2021 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) |
| Course Map | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2021. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2021. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2021. |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong) |
| Cloud Campus | No |
| Duration | 3 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| CRICOS course code | 095257M Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong) |
| Deakin course code | A345 |
| Approval status | This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7. |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Fees and charges
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
Course overview
Enter the dynamic world of professional design with Deakin’s Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication). Learn the tools, strategies and design thinking methodologies required to be an adaptive, multidisciplinary communications designer.
From day one you’ll learn to shape your ideas into smart and influential concepts under the guidance of industry leaders and established designers.
Combine studies from related disciplines, including creative coding, photography and animation, and engrain your skills through practical learning. You can let your creativity run free and practise with the same tools and technologies professionals use in our world-class design facilities. And in your final year, you’ll enter the studio to work on a real client project, with the opportunity to showcase your finished product to the public. This practical experience prepares you for the challenges of your future role, and ensures you graduate ready to make a real impact in the rapidly changing field of design.
Want the skills to thrive in a career in communication design?
You’ll learn how to interpret design briefs and develop specialised skills in web design and user experience (UX), as well as traditional skills in typography, illustration, branding and print design.
Benefit from Deakin’s networks and relationships within the design industry and have opportunities to include your work in exhibitions and showcases.
Take your learning further and develop skills in:
- creative coding
- designing 3D environments
- digital photography
- IT
- principles of animation.
Professional recognition
Deakin’s Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) is recognised by the Design Institute of Australia (DIA), so you’ll be up-to-date with the current industry practices and developments. The DIA also offers student membership and access to some of the biggest design events and experts in the nation.
Career opportunities
Graduates are open to many career opportunities, including in the areas of advertising, graphic design studios, print houses, publishers, corporate companies, government and private practices. Potential careers include:
- communications designer
- art director/creative director
- animation and motion designer
- web designer
- graphic designer
- interactive designer
- illustrator
- packaging (FMCG) designer.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year and your study load. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website or our handy Fee estimator to help estimate your tuition fees.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
| Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities | Develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the forms, functions, processes, languages and materials of visual communication design. Developing the capacity to meet client requirements in a rapidly changing industry setting. |
| Communication | Effectively communicate ideas using specific language, concepts and media to transmit ideas in response to design briefs. |
| Digital literacy | Utilize theoretical knowledge and practical skills with digital technologies to achieve user experience design outcomes. |
| Critical thinking | Acquire skills in critical thinking and the analytical evaluation of design. Critically engaging a range of strategies to achieve professional industry based outcomes. |
| Problem solving | Utilize design thinking methods to empathise, analyse, ideate, prototype and test complex and ill-defined problems. |
| Self-management | Initiate autonomous and self-directed management techniques; demonstrating professional responsibility and accountability to a wide range of design projects. |
| Teamwork | Lead, deliver and perform within a collaborative professional team to deliver industry standard outcomes. |
| Global citizenship | Critically engage designs capacity to act as an agent of change in multiple contexts. To identify and develop proposals for personal and corporate social, cultural and ethical responsibilities in a global and domestic context. |
| Approved by Faculty Board March 2017 | |
Course rules
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication), a student must complete 24 credit points including:
- 17 credit points of core units
- 2 credit points of course elective units
- 5 credit points of open elective units
- no more than 10 credit points at level 1
- minimum of 6 credit points at level 3
- AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
Course structure
Level 1
| AAI018 | Academic Integrity (0 credit point) |
| ADD101 | Design Thinking |
| ADD102 | Design Skills and Technologies 1 |
| ADD103 | Design Skills and Technologies 2 |
| ADV101 | Drawing and Illustration |
| ADV102 | Typography and Publication Design |
Level 2
| ADD203 | Professional Practice in Design |
| ADD209 | Design Laboratory (formerly ADD104) |
| ADV201 | Web Design and Interactivity |
| ADV202 | Branding Design |
| ADV205 | Designing User Experience (formerly ADD201) |
| ADV206 | Iconography and Type (formerly ADD202) |
Level 3
| ADD301 | Collaborative Design Project (2 credit points) |
| ADD302 | Individual Design Portfolio |
| ADD303 | Design to Change the World |
| ADD304 | Creative Design Studio (2 credit points) |
Course electives
Plus 2 credit points of course electives from:
| ACC302 | Advertising: Desire, Consumption and the Attention Economy |
| ACC317 | Communication and Creative Arts Internship A |
| ACF107 | Principles of Animation |
| ACF212 | Visual Effects and Motion Graphics |
| ACG308 | Screen & Design Industry Project |
| ACI102 | Digital Photography |
| ADA102 | Designing 3D Environments |
| ADA201 | Creating 3D Characters |
| ADA202 | Animation, Performance and Capture |
| ADA204 | Motion Graphics for Film and Advertising |
| AIP247 | Media and Politics: Campaign Strategies |
| ALA102 | Creative Brand Communication |
| ALA201 | Art Direction and Visualisation |
| ALM102 | Making Video |
| IND101 | Introduction to Aboriginal Studies |
| SIT110 | Creative Coding |
Plus 5 credit points of open elective units
Work experience
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Other course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Other learning experiences
Visual Communication Design have successfully conducted a Design/Animation study tour program to Japan for over seven years. This study tour includes visits to industry and university partners, workshops with Japanese students and academics.
Students can choose to complete one or two internship units as an elective.
Visual Communication Design, in the past, has students involved with Deakin Marketing department, Verandah magazine, small work based projects that have come from the community and participating in exhibitions. The program is a rich program with many opportunities for students to expand on their learning experiences.