Bachelor of Design with a Major in Communication Design

Concepts and Narrative

Explore the fundamentals of design conceptualisation and layout for 2D and 3D projects.

Packaging Design

Take an integrated approach to branding and visual communication, including packaging.

Digital Design

Develop design techniques for engaging in the digital environment.

Visual Design

Explore how language and sign production work with design to communicate a message.

Brand and Identity

Discover how to utilise different elements of identity to define a brand and speak to a target market.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Develop knowledge and cognitive skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and apply this with initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship
2. Demonstrate technical and practical skills, and a broad understanding of key concepts in their chosen field of study
3. Critically apply knowledge, cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking and judgment in identifying and solving problems independently and collaboratively, in diverse contexts
4. Articulate a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas to different audiences and stakeholders
5. Apply a value system that includes empathy, principles of sustainability and respectful design, to their knowledge and scholarship of design practice
6. Implement an organised schedule to deliver a complex design project which may include research, group work, academics, industry professionals, students and other stakeholders

Bring your passion for design to a career in devising effective communications that cut through with our Bachelor of Design with a Major in Communication Design.

With great graphic design comes great responsibility. Now more than ever, visual messaging is a huge part of how brands communicate to their customers. The success of a campaign or a product can live or die on its visual presentation.

This degree prepares you to work in a range of creative industries, including advertising, branding, merchandising, communications and publication design.

Our communication design course will develop your design thinking and practice in order to prepare you to thrive in today’s fast-paced digital environment. Learn core specialisations such as typography, image-making, brand and identity, 3D form packaging, information design, web design and publication design. Then combine them with strategy, concept development and design to create razor-sharp ideas that cut through the competition.

Recommended study pattern

Core units

Concepts and Narratives (DCO10001)

Digital Design (DCO10002)

Photography for Design (DCO10004)

Typography (DCO10005)

20th Century Design (DDD10001)

Brand and Identity Design (DCO20001)

Web Design (DCO20004)

Contemporary Design Issues (DDD20004)

Major units

Packaging Design (DCO10003)

Visual Communication Studio (DCO10007)

Typography for Print and Interactive Publication (DCO20009)

Design for Production (DCO30002)

Publication Design (DDD30013)

Communication Design Capstone Project (DDD30047)

Communication Design Strategy (DDD30048)

Recommended Electives

Experimental Image-Making Processes (ART20002)

Interaction Design for Web (DDD20015)

Experience Design and Usability for the Web (DDD20016)

Compositing for Visual Effects (DDD30011)

*Recommended electives are only available to Design students.

Award requirements

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Design, students must complete 300 credit points comprising of:

• 8 Core Units of Study (100 credit points)
• 7 units of study from Communication Design (100 credit points)
• 8 units of study (100 credit points) comprising of electives, of which 4 are recommended.

Recommended electives are only available to Design students.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $24,903

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Swinburne University of Technology leads the way with innovative and new ways of teaching, learning and thinking. It offers a wide range of study options, from pre-apprenticeships, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhDs, including online degrees with Open Universities Australia. Swinburne is known for career-oriented education and encouraging lifelong learning.

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Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees and degrees). Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply.

Submission of a portfolio of your creative work examples that sufficiently demonstrates an understanding of the practical aspects of visual communication design is required. Your work examples might include design work you have previously created for clients or friends and/or artwork you have created as a hobby. The aim is to demonstrate the breadth of your creative skills by including examples of work that show a variety of different skills or design applications.

Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit of up to 16 units.

Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.

VCE Pre-requisites:

•  Applicants must meet the associated minimum ATAR score.
•  VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in any English (except EAL) or 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent
•  VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in one of Art, Product Design and Technology, Media, Interactive Digital Media C, Creative and Digital Media (VCE VET) I, Studio Arts or Visual Communication Design or equivalent.
•  A portfolio of work and a certified Statement of Results will be required.

Applicants without a formal qualification but with significant and relevant work experience and appropriate English language skills, or a suitable Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) result, will be considered if they can demonstrate that they can undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success.

International students are required to demonstrate their English proficiency before enrolling into a Swinburne Online degree by undertaking one of the following English language tests; The International English Language Test Score (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score.

Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit of up to 16 units.

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for credit.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for RPL.