Enquire about this course
|
Local Admission
|
International Admission
|
Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)Approved Abbreviation: BDes(VisComm)
Western Sydney University Course Code: 1571.10
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 2022 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.
For Commencement Year 2017 to 2021 - please refer to 1571.9 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)
For commencement Year 2015 to 2016 - please refer to 1571.8 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)
For commencement Year 2013 to 2014 - please refer to 1571.7 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)
For commencement Year 2012 - please reer to 1571.6 Bachelor of Design (Visual Commencement)
For commencement Year 2009 to 2011 - please refer to 1571.5 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)
For commencement Year 2008 - please refer to 1571.4 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)
For commencement Year 2005 to 2007 - please refer to 1571.3 - Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)
For commencement Year 2004 - please refer to 1571.2 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)
For commencement Year 2002 and 2003 - please refer to 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
Students are admitted on the basis of their ATAR score or equivalent.
Alternate Entry
Where academic requirements are not met, entry by interview is also possible to show your personal aptitude, design skills and creativity. The interview will allow applicants an opportunity to talk with academic staff about their creative work and motivation for studying the program, supported by a portfolio of work. After applicants have applied they are required to book an interview at the University's online booking system.
https://admissions.westernsydney.edu.au
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
| 102271 | Illustrating Popular Culture |
Interactive
| 102272 | Interactive Design: Games |
| 102267 | Interactive Design: Apps |
Photomedia
| 100941 | Photomedia: Fashion and Identity |
| 102268 | Photomedia: Photographic Practice |
Digital Design
Recommended Sequence
Full-time
Year 1
Autumn session
| 102261 | Graphic Design: Understanding the Principles |
| 102262 | Design Histories and Futures |
Spring session
| 102264 | Graphic Design: Process and Practice |
| 101922 | Web and Time-based Design |
Year 2
Autumn session
| 102265 | Graphic Design: Interactive Digital Media |
One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing
| 102272 | Interactive Design: Games |
| 102268 | Photomedia: Photographic Practice |
Spring session
| 102270 | Graphic Design: The Professional Context |
One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing
| 102271 | Illustrating Popular Culture |
| 102267 | Interactive Design: Apps |
| 100941 | Photomedia: Fashion and Identity |
Year 3
Autumn session
| 102274 | Social Design: Research and Practice |
| 102275 | Contextual Design Studies |
One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing
| 102272 | Interactive Design: Games |
| 102268 | Photomedia: Photographic Practice |
One elective
Spring session
| 102276 | Graphic Design: Developing a Personal Portfolio |
One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing
| 102271 | Illustrating Popular Culture |
| 102267 | Interactive Design: Apps |
| 100941 | Photomedia: Fashion and Identity |
And one elective
This may include the elective unit below
| 102705 | Communicating 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
Autumn session
| 102278 | Professional Design Experience: The Studio |
And one elective
2H session
Spring session
| 102280 | Professional 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
| 102265 | Graphic Design: Interactive Digital Media |
One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing
| 102272 | Interactive Design: Games |
| 102268 | Photomedia: Photographic Practice |
Spring session
| 102270 | Graphic Design: The Professional Context |
One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing
| 102271 | Illustrating Popular Culture |
| 102267 | Interactive Design: Apps |
| 100941 | Photomedia: Fashion and Identity |
Year 3
Autumn session
| 102274 | Social Design: Research and Practice |
| 102275 | Contextual Design Studies |
One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing
| 102272 | Interactive Design: Games |
| 102268 | Photomedia: Photographic Practice |
And one elective
Spring session
| 102276 | Graphic Design: Developing a Personal Portfolio |
One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing
| 102271 | Illustrating Popular Culture |
| 102267 | Interactive Design: Apps |
| 100941 | Photomedia: Fashion and Identity |
And one elective
This may include the elective unit below
| 102705 | Communicating 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
Autumn session
| 102278 | Professional Design Experience: The Studio |
And one elective
2H session
Spring session
| 102280 | Professional 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
| 102270 | Graphic Design: The Professional Context |
And one elective
This may include the elective unit below
| 102705 | Communicating for Sustainability |
Autumn session
| 102265 | Graphic Design: Interactive Digital Media |
One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing
| 102272 | Interactive Design: Games |
| 102268 | Photomedia: Photographic Practice |
Year 3
Spring session
| 102276 | Graphic Design: Developing a Personal Portfolio |
Two Specialisation units from the selected unit pairings
| 102271 | Illustrating Popular Culture |
| 102267 | Interactive Design: Apps |
| 100941 | Photomedia: Fashion and Identity |
Autumn session
| 102274 | Social Design: Research and Practice |
| 102275 | Contextual Design Studies |
One Specialisation unit from the selected unit pairing
| 102272 | Interactive Design: Games |
| 102268 | Photomedia: 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
Autumn session
| 102278 | Professional Design Experience: The Studio |
And one elective
2H session
Spring session
| 102280 | Professional 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
| 102265 | Graphic Design: Interactive Digital Media |
Spring session
| 102270 | Graphic Design: The Professional Context |
Year 2
Autumn session
| 102275 | Contextual Design Studies |
| 102274 | Social Design: Research and Practice |
| 102272 | Interactive Design: Games |
Spring session
| 102276 | Graphic Design: Developing a Personal Portfolio |
| 102267 | Interactive Design: Apps |
Mid-year Commencement
Year 1
Spring session
| 102270 | Graphic Design: The Professional Context |
Autumn session
| 102265 | Graphic Design: Interactive Digital Media |
Year 2
Spring session
| 102276 | Graphic Design: Developing a Personal Portfolio |
| 102267 | Interactive Design: Apps |
Autumn session
| 102274 | Social Design: Research and Practice |
| 102275 | Contextual Design Studies |
| 102272 | Interactive 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
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)