Course

Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)

Approved Abbreviation: BDes(VisComm)

Western Sydney University Course Code: 1571.9

AQF Level: 7

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 2017 or later.

Units may be revised or replaced to ensure students are provided with up to date curriculum throughout their studies, and this may result in a new course version. Refer to the Check My Course Progress page in MySR for the most up to date information for your course.

Commencement Year 2015 to 2016 - 1571.8 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)

Commencement Year 2013 to 2014 - 1571.7 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)

Commencement Year 2012 - 1571.6 Bachelor of Design (Visual Commencement)

Commencement Year 2009 to 2011 - 1571.5 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)

Commencement Year 2008 - 1571.4 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)

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 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) degree will provide you with fundamental skills and knowledge to communicate ideas and information across a wide range of visual media. With an emphasis on studio-based practice, you will study areas such as image design, typography, layout design, branding, design history, research methods, and web-based design. From year two, there are opportunities to engage with live community or industry projects, and you will choose two practical specialisations from the following pairs: motion design and data visualisation; game and app design; illustration; and photography. You may also choose electives from outside of design such as advertising and media production. Throughout the program you will engage with individual and team-based projects, develop your conceptual thinking skills, use a variety of traditional and emerging technologies, and expand your creative practice. In year four you will take a position in our award-winning teaching design studio where you will gain experience in a professional learning environment, preparing you for work in an exciting and evolving industry.

Students may exit with 1624 Bachelor of Design Studies after successful completion of the first three years of the program.

  • Director of Academic Program - Dr Alison Gill

Study Mode
Four years full-time or part-time equivalent.

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

Inherent requirements

There are inherent requirements for this course that you must meet in order to complete your course and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this course online.

Inherent Requirements

Admission

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office. International students can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Course Structure

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

As part of the course requirements, students are required to complete two pairs of specialisation unit pairings. If they choose to, they can complete further practice-based units as elective choices.

Illustration

101017Illustrating Narrative
102271Illustrating Popular Culture

Interactive

102272Interactive Design: Games
102267Interactive Design: Apps

Photomedia

100941Photomedia: Fashion and Identity
102268Photomedia: Photographic Practice

Digital Design

102269Data Visualisation
102273Motion Design

Recommended Sequence

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

102261Graphic Design: Understanding the Principles
102262Design Histories and Futures
102263Image Design

Spring session

102264Graphic Design: Process and Practice
101921Visual Storytelling
101922Web and Time-based Design

Year 2

Autumn session

102265Graphic Design: Interactive Digital Media
102266Researching the Visual

One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing

101017Illustrating Narrative
102272Interactive Design: Games
102273Motion Design
102268Photomedia: Photographic Practice

Spring session

102270Graphic Design: The Professional Context
101923Australian Design

One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing

102269Data Visualisation
102271Illustrating Popular Culture
102267Interactive Design: Apps
100941Photomedia: Fashion and Identity

Year 3

Autumn session

102274Social Design: Research and Practice
102275Contextual Design Studies

One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing

101017Illustrating Narrative
102272Interactive Design: Games
102273Motion Design
102268Photomedia: Photographic Practice

One elective

Spring session

102276Graphic Design: Developing a Personal Portfolio
102277Design Research Project

One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing

102269Data Visualisation
102271Illustrating Popular Culture
102267Interactive Design: Apps
100941Photomedia: Fashion and Identity

And one elective

This may include the elective unit below

102705Communicating for Sustainability

Students may exit with 1624 Bachelor of Design Studies after successful completion of 240 credit points in the first three years of the course sequence

Year 4

1H session

102279Major Design Project

Autumn session

102278Professional Design Experience: The Studio

And one elective

2H session

102279Major Design Project

Spring session

102280Professional Design Experience: The Individual Practitioner

And one elective

Recommended Sequence applicable only to students admitted through WSU - The College courses 7152 Diploma in Design Extended - Visual Communication and 7044 Diploma in Design.

Start-year Commencement

As part of the course requirements, students are required to complete two pairs of specialisation unit pairings. If they choose to, they can complete further practice-based units as elective choices.

Year 2

Autumn session

102265Graphic Design: Interactive Digital Media
102266Researching the Visual

One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing

101017Illustrating Narrative
102272Interactive Design: Games
102273Motion Design
102268Photomedia: Photographic Practice

Spring session

102270Graphic Design: The Professional Context
101923Australian Design

One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing

102269Data Visualisation
102271Illustrating Popular Culture
102267Interactive Design: Apps
100941Photomedia: Fashion and Identity

Year 3

Autumn session

102274Social Design: Research and Practice
102275Contextual Design Studies

One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing

101017Illustrating Narrative
102272Interactive Design: Games
102273Motion Design
102268Photomedia: Photographic Practice

And one elective

Spring session

102276Graphic Design: Developing a Personal Portfolio
102277Design Research Project

One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing

102269Data Visualisation
102271Illustrating Popular Culture
102267Interactive Design: Apps
100941Photomedia: Fashion and Identity

And one elective

This may include the elective unit below

102705Communicating for Sustainability

Students may exit with 1624 Bachelor of Design Studies after successful completion of 240 credit points in the first three years of the course sequence.

Year 4

1H session

102279Major Design Project

Autumn session

102278Professional Design Experience: The Studio

And one elective

2H session

102279Major Design Project

Spring session

102280Professional Design Experience: The Individual Practitioner

And one elective

Mid-year Commencement

As part of the course requirements, students are required to complete two pairs of specialisation unit pairings. If they choose to, they can complete further practice-based units as elective choices.

Year 2

Spring session

102270Graphic Design: The Professional Context
101923Australian Design

And one elective

This may include the elective unit below

102705Communicating for Sustainability

Autumn session

102265Graphic Design: Interactive Digital Media
102266Researching the Visual

One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing

101017Illustrating Narrative
102272Interactive Design: Games
102273Motion Design
102268Photomedia: Photographic Practice

Year 3

Spring session

102276Graphic Design: Developing a Personal Portfolio
102277Design Research Project

Two Specialisation units from the selected unit pairings

102269Data Visualisation
102271Illustrating Popular Culture
102267Interactive Design: Apps
100941Photomedia: Fashion and Identity

Autumn session

102274Social Design: Research and Practice
102275Contextual Design Studies

One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing

101017Illustrating Narrative
102272Interactive Design: Games
102273Motion Design
102268Photomedia: Photographic Practice

And one elective

Students may exit with 1624 Bachelor of Design Studies after successful completion of 240 credit points in the first three years of the course sequence.

Students continuing into the fourth year of study are advised that the Spring session following Autumn Year 3 is a transition semester with Year 4 commencing in 1H/Autumn sessions.

Year 4

1H session

102279Major Design Project

Autumn session

102278Professional Design Experience: The Studio

And one elective

2H session

102279Major Design Project

Spring session

102280Professional Design Experience: The Individual Practitioner

And one elective

Guangdong Baiyun University Articulation Pathway

Students admitted through the Guangdong Baiyun University Articulation Pathway will be admitted to course 1571 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) initially and, once they have their advanced standing applied and successfully complete the remaining 160 credit points as set out in the residual program (Recommended Sequence), they will exit with the course/award 1624 Bachelor of Design Studies, with two specialisation unit pairings in Interactive and Digital Design.

Recommended Sequence

Start-year Commencement

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

102266Researching the Visual
102265Graphic Design: Interactive Digital Media
102263Image Design

Spring session

102270Graphic Design: The Professional Context
101923Australian Design
101921Visual Storytelling

Year 2

Autumn session

102275Contextual Design Studies
102274Social Design: Research and Practice
102273Motion Design
102272Interactive Design: Games

Spring session

102276Graphic Design: Developing a Personal Portfolio
102277Design Research Project
102269Data Visualisation
102267Interactive Design: Apps

Mid-year Commencement

Year 1

Spring session

102270Graphic Design: The Professional Context
101923Australian Design
101921Visual Storytelling

Autumn session

102265Graphic Design: Interactive Digital Media
102266Researching the Visual
102263Image Design

Year 2

Spring session

102276Graphic Design: Developing a Personal Portfolio
102277Design Research Project
102269Data Visualisation
102267Interactive Design: Apps

Autumn session

102274Social Design: Research and Practice
102275Contextual Design Studies
102273Motion Design
102272Interactive Design: Games

~

Sub-major Elective Spaces

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

Elective sub-major which may be available

SM1125Advertising Studies

Search for a sub-major

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

Indigenous Australian Studies Sub-major

Business Sustainability Sub-major

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

MyStudentRecords (MySR)



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