Course

Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)

Approved Abbreviation: BDes(VisComm)

Western Sydney University Course Code: 1571.4

CRICOS Code: 044773B

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year for this course is 2008.

Commencement Year 2005 to 2007 - 1571.3 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)

Commencement Year 2004 - 1571.2 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)

Commencement Year 2002 and 2003 - 1571.1 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)

The designer is an essential player in the creating and shaping of society's messages. Design is a broad discipline, with functions in the communication, media, architecture, fashion, industrial and engineering sectors.

The rapidly changing world of information and media technology is particularly affecting visual communication design, raising challenges and opportunities for those prepared to play a creative role in that aspect of design. This course aims to provide you with a set of foundations for thinking about design, and specialist subject pathways for your professional practice of design.

As a student in this course, you can select complementary design studies in animation, illustration, interactive design and photomedia, as well as areas such as advertising, public relations, creative writing, media production and journalism. The format of study includes individual and team-based project work, concept development, studio practice, extensive use of advanced computer technologies and opportunities to engage with real community and industry projects as a component of the study program.

Students may exit with 1624.1 Bachelor of Design Studies after successful completion of the first three years of the course sequence.

The Honours Program will be available to students who attain a grade average of Credit or higher in their first three years of study. The Program will offer students an advanced-level involvement within their discipline. Students will get the opportunity to significantly focus and develop their practical and theoretical knowledge beyond the scope of their initial three years of undergraduate study. In-depth research on a specific topic proposed at the outset will be actively pursued within the Program to culminate in the production of a major project.

Director of Academic Program - Roman Goik

Study Mode
Four years full-time.

Accreditation
Graduates are eligible for membership of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) and the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA).

Admission

Local applications for the course must be made through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Further information on courses is available on the Local Admissions section of the University's website.

International applicants should contact International Office for details on admission. Contact information for the International Office is available via their website.

International Office

The applicants for the Honours Program must have completed the Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) 3 year course, or an equivalent Program of undergraduate study. Applicants submit a project statement and proposal, with a select bibliography. Applications are scrutinised and assessed by the School Research Committee and College Executive. Applicants are generally expected to possess and undergraduate GPA of 5.0 (Credit) or higher. Applicants will be strongly encouraged to discuss their application with one or two potential supervisors within the School before submitting the application.

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

101040

Approaches to Communication

101026

Visual Analysis

101393

Image: Photomedia

101025

Australian Design

Spring session

100947

Design Thinking

101019

Digital Design Production

100943

Image Design: Illustration

101022

20th Century Design Histories

Year 2

Autumn session

101015

Information Design

101180

Web and Time Based Design

One unit from the following Practice Unit Pairings

101017

Illustrating Narrative

100789

Interactive Design I

101012

Photomedia

And one elective unit

Spring session

101080

Design Issues

100796

Typography for Print and Screen

One unit from the following Practice Unit Pairings

101063

Illustration: Advertising and Editorial

100949

Interactive Design II

100941

Photomedia: Fashion and Identity

And one elective unit

Year 3

Autumn session

100950

Professional Practice: Design Management

101013

Publications

And one elective unit

Spring session

101020

Design Research Training

101090

Design Project

And one elective unit

Professional Strand

Year 4

Autumn session

101064

Reading the Contemporary

And one elective unit

1H session

100602

Communication Design Major Project

101024

Communication Design Professional Brief

Spring session

101172

Communication and Design Reflective Exegesis

And one elective unit

2H session

100602

Communication Design Major Project

101024

Communication Design Professional Brief

Embedded Honours - alternate to fourth year coursework program

An Honours stream is offered - see the Honours in Bachelors Awards Policy and associated College Guidelines for the admission criteria:

Policies Website

Embedded Honours Program Course Advisor - Ronaldo Morelos

A fourth year Embedded Honours program is available to undertake a substantial design thesis.

Year 4

Autumn session

101416

Creativity: Theory and Practice

101417

Project Seminar and Proposal

Spring session

101418

Major Research Project

Practice Unit Pairings

M1571ILLUS

Illustration

M1571INTVM

Interactive Media

M1571PHOTO

Photomedia

Sub-major elective spaces

Elective units may be used toward obtaining an additional approved sub-major (40 credit points).

Search for sub-majors

Western Sydney University offers sub-majors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Indigenous Australian Studies Sub-major

Indigenous Australian Creative Expressions Sub-major

Indigenous Economics Sub-major

Business Sustainability Sub-major

Students can apply for an elective major or sub-major via MySR.

MyStudentRecords (MySR)