Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours)
2016 – Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
This course has been discontinued - this course is closed for new enrolments, the information on this page is provided for continuing students.
The Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) produces imaginative and advanced communication designers and researchers. Students gain high-end strategic and critical thinking skills informed by the latest research, equipping them with the ability to create powerful, innovative and refined design solutions to meet the needs of the communication design industry. In addition, students are mentored by experts via industry-focused workshops and afforded the opportunity to build strong industry networks through an embedded industry placement component, work in the Swinburne Design Factory, or participation in industry projects. Through the University's strong links with the design industry, graduates are well placed to seek employment in advanced areas of communication design.
VTAC codes
- 3400236041 (CSP)
- 3400236043 (IFP)
Wild animal inspired road safety campaign launches in Melbourne
A live outdoor ad campaign in Melbourne’s CBD featuring wild animals has been created by Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) students. Launched in partnership with oOh!media the ads are located at major road intersections and popular meeting places on digital billboards and screens across the city.
Course structure
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours), students must complete a total of 400 credit points, as follows:
- 18 Core units including one 25 credit point industry experience unit (250 credit points)
- In Year 4, students must complete one of three Streams (100 credit points)
- 4 Elective units from any discipline within the university (4 x 12.5 = 50 credit points), and
Students unable to secure an Industry Placement will complete an equivalent industry experience unit in Years 3 or 4.
In the fourth, final year of the degree, students choose between three elective streams. Stream 1 is offered in Semester 1 only and provides a highly focussed set of research methods and Capstone units in Communication Design. Streams 2 and 3 offer the opportunity to participate in either local or global projects with Swinburne Design Factory – a multidisciplinary platform for research and development working with industry clients. Please note that Stream 2 (for local projects) is offered in Semester 1 only and that Stream 3 (for global projects) is offered in Semester 2 only. Find out more about local and global projects at Swinburne Design Factory.
For students who enter with exempted credits, a minimum of at least 137.5 credit points within the Communication Design discipline units must be completed to be eligible for the award.
Honours Merit
The honours merit calculation is based on the averaged results of the last 100 credit points in the final year of the course with the following descriptive outcomes:
- BDes (CommDes) (Hons) with High Distinction; for students who achieve ≥ 80
- BDes (CommDes) (Hons) with Distinction; for students who achieve 70 – 79
- BDes (CommDes) (Hons) with Credit; for students who achieve 60 – 69
- BDes (CommDes) (Hons); for students who achieve < 60
Students are required to undertake the last eight units (100 credit points), including all outcome units, to qualify for an honours merit calculation. This honours merit calculation is based only on units completed at Swinburne.
Students will normally be enrolled in a Recommended Study Sequence. Units normally carry 12.5 credit points. In each year, eight units normally constitute a full-time load of 100 credit points and four units normally constitute a part-time load of 50 credit points.
Winter and Summer Terms
The Faculty of Health, Arts and Design is offering an optional six-week Winter and Summer term allowing you to complete extra study between the standard semesters. These terms are not mandatory. However, if you wish to vary your study load you may want to consider this option.
International Study Programs - Study Abroad
Students can apply to participate in an exchange program or a study tour program as part of their degree. Find out more about current exchange and study tour programs at Swinburne Abroad.
Units of Study
Specific units of study for the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) are listed below. Each unit is 12.5 credit points unless otherwise indicated.
Year 1
Students must complete the following units:
DDD10001 20th Century Design
DCO10007 Visual Communication Studio
DCO10005 Typography
DCO10001 Design Studio: Concepts and Narratives
DCO10004 Photography for Design
DCO10002 Digital Design
DCO10006 Design Studio: Typography 2 - Ceased replaced with DDM10006 Typography for Screen and Motion
DCO10003 Packaging Design
Year 2
Students must complete the following units:
DDD10002 Methods of Investigation
DCO20009 Typography for Print and Interactive Publication
DCO20004 Web Design
DCO20003 Information Design
DCO20001 Brand and Identity Design
DDD20004 Contemporary Design Issues
AND
2 x Elective units
Year 3
Students must complete the following units:
DCO30011 Industry Workshops (25 credit points)
DCO30017 Communication Design Strategy
DCO30013 Narratives of Practice
Either: DES30061 Industry Placement 1 (25 credit points)* OR DDD30039 Industry Projects (25 credit points)
AND
2 x Elective units
Year 4 (Honours)
Students must select and complete one of the following Streams in Year 4:
Stream 1 - Communication Design (Semester 1 only)
DDD40001 Methods for Design Research (25 credit points)*
DDD40002 Design-led Innovation: Research Project (25 credit points)*
DCO40001 Communication Design Studio (25 credit points)*
Either: DES30062 Industry Placement 2 (25 credit points) OR DDD40014 Advanced Industry Projects (25 credit points)
Stream 2 - Swinburne Design Factory Local Projects (Semester 1 only)
DDD40001 Methods for Design Research (25 credit points)*
DDD40011 Swinburne Design Factory Project (Design) (25 credit points)*
DDD40004 Swinburne Design Factory Project (Design) 2 (25 credit points)*
DDD40002 Design-led Innovation: Research Project (25 credit points)*
Stream 3 - Swinburne Design Factory Global Projects (Semester 2 only)
DDD40015 Research Methods for Global Design Innovation
DDD40011 Swinburne Design Factory Project (Design) (25 credit points)*
DDD40010 Swinburne Design Factory Project
DDD40004 Swinburne Design Factory Project (Design) 2 (25 credit points)*
DDD40013 Swinburne Design Factory Implementation Project*
DDD40012 Swinburne Design Factory Development Project*
Elective units
Students must select four elective units from within any undergraduate discipline of the university, two in Year 2 and two in Year 3 of the course. The following elective units are offered by the Faculty of Health, Arts and Design. They may be studied as a sequence or individually, timetable permitting. Prerequisite units may apply.
Design Management Elective Sequence
DDD20005 Managing Design
DDD20007 Design Systems and Services
DDD30001 Design and Business Strategy
DDD30006 Design Thinking
Photography Elective Sequence
DDD20009 Image Making for Professional Practice
DDD30011 Compositing for Visual Effects
DDD30017 Integrated Photography Techniques and Theory - ceased
One other elective unit
Animation Elective Sequence
DDM10004 Introduction to Animation
FTV10004 Scriptwriting and Directing: Short Narrative Film
DDM10005 Imaging for Narrative and Storyboards
DDM10003 2D Character Animation
Film and Television Theory Elective Sequence
FTV10006 Genre and the Moving Image
FTV20005 The Australian Screen
FTV30005 Hollywood Cinema
FTV30001 European and Post Colonial Cinema
Theory and Practice in Italian Cinema Minor 2015
Any four of the following units:
FTV30010 Italian Neorealism in Practice
ITA30016 Post War Italy
FTV30011 Italian Cinema
ITA10011 Italian Literature and Culture
* Outcome units
Matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.
Career opportunities
Graduates may find employment in design consultancy, advertising, publishing, merchandising and government instrumentalities.
Professional recognition
Graduates may be eligible for membership of the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA) and Design Institute of Australia (DIA) and should confirm their eligibility with these entities.
Fees
Find out more about fees.
Scholarships
At Swinburne scholarships are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students.
How to apply
View the Course Admission Information, which includes the ATAR and Student profiles for this course. Swinburne’s general admissions information is also available here.