Design Context
UndergraduateTUA-DCX1012026
Course information for 2026 intake
Grow as a creator and designer. You’ll explore storytelling, symbolism, and culture – all to build your confidence and inform imaginative, human-centred design solutions. Get inspired. Create meaningful visual experiences.
Enrol today with instant approval and no entry requirements
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 8 Feb 2026
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Start dates
- 16 Feb 2026,
- 30 Mar 2026,
- 1 June 2026,
- 13 July 2026,
- 14 Sept 2026,
- 2 Nov 2026
- Price from
- $2,700
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Design Context
About this subject
By the end of this 12-week subject, you'll be able to:
- Analyse and interpret visual elements to respond to a creative challenge.
- Describe the interconnected elements of the creative process.
- Interpret historical periods in time to develop contemporary creative outcomes.
- Propose imaginative solutions for creative challenges.
- A Quest for Creative Confidence
- From Fear to Courage – Observe and Ask Why
- From Blank Page to Insight – Bringing Storytelling to Life Through Visual Language
- Introduction to Semiotics – Interpreting the Cultural Meaning of Signs and Symbols
- Once Upon a Time – The Continuum of Design and Creativity
- From Curiosity to Passion – The Search for Understanding Our Visual World
- Cultural Catalysts – An Era of Transformation and Self-Expression
- The Art of Persuasion – Composition, Empathy and Audience
- More Human Than Human – The Pursuit of a Disruptive Experience
- The Heart of Innovation – Pastiche and Postmodernism
- Look to the Past to Predict the Future – Embracing Creative Confidence
- Creative Confidence in Action
Design Context introduces students to the interdisciplinary world of design and creativity, supporting them as they transition to higher education. Students develop creativity as a mindset and a new way of thinking, enabling them to proactively approach creative challenges. Through observation, investigation, insight and soulful storytelling, students build creative confidence to take risks and action their ideas to create meaningful experiences for people, communities, and their environments.
- Review: Observation to Interpretation (25%)
- Process Journal: Historical Analysis and Investigation (40%)
- Presentation: Final Historical Analysis and Resolution (35%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
At Torrens University Australia you can tailor your study to suit your lifestyle. Thanks to their innovative digital learning system you’ll gain the ultimate in flexibility, and still receive personalised guidance from academics and access to work placement, mentorship and internship opportunities. Online you can attend live classes or view recorded sessions, connect with lecturers and fellow students, and access content on-demand 24/7.
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Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Why study a single subject?
Bite sized study
Try studying a particular area to see if online study suits you, or upskill in just a few months with a single subject that you’re interested in.
Pursue a dream
With thousands of single subjects to choose from, you can find topics that get you on the path to your higher education goals fast.
Gain Uni credit
Most single subjects are part of a full degree. That means if you’re keen to keep learning, you can gain credit for the subjects you’ve successfully completed.
Single subject FAQs
What’s a single subject?
Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects, including postgraduate single subjects, without having to commit to a degree.
Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.
How can I use single subjects to get into a full degree?
First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.
If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.
Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.
Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page.
Can anyone help me choose a subject?
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How do I pay for my subjects?
You can pay up front with your credit card, or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government depending on your citizenship status and where you’ll live during your studies.
For more information about how to pay for your studies visit our fees page or contact a student advisor.
How do I enrol?
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
When is the cut-off date for enrolling?
Close of enrolment times vary between universities and subjects. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting key dates.