Publication Design
Overview
This unit explores the formal, organisational, and craft aspects of publication design to enable innovative and experimental typographic and publication design. The emphasis will be on critical thinking, advanced visualisation and the application of communication to produce a quality graphic document.
Requisites
Rule
150 credit points in one of the following courses:
Bachelor of Design (including double degrees and old Bachelor of Design tagged codes – currently on teach out), Bachelor of Design, (Communication Design) (Honours) or BA-EDUSEC Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
OR
25 credit points in COMDES2 Communication Design Minor
AND
DCO20009 Typography for Print and Interactive Publication
01-June-2025
05-October-2025
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Apply conventions of structure, presentation and production in publication design
- Analyse contemporary design practices to determine and articulate appropriate visual and creative approaches for design development
- Integrate the functional and expressive components of visual communication projects
- Resolve issues of structure, sequence and narrative in the design of complex visual communications
- Create innovative approaches to contemporary practice in visual and typographic expression
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Activity Type | Activity | Total Hours | Number of Weeks | Hours Per Week | Venue Type and Activity Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus | Class | 36 | 12 weeks | 3 | Tutorial, Tutorial method demonstrations, Design critique, Design consultation |
| Specified Activities | Various | 84 | 12 weeks | 7 | Design proposal & development, Design research, Individual presentations, Design refinement and executions, Quiz |
| Unspecified Activities | Independent Learning | 30 | 12 weeks | 2.5 | |
| Total Hours: | 150 | Total Hours (per week): | 12.5 | ||
Swinburne Online
| Activity Type | Activity | Total Hours | Number of Weeks | Hours Per Week | Venue Type and Activity Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unspecified Activities | Various | 84 | 12 weeks | 7 | Design proposal & development, Design research, Individual presentations, Design refinement and executions, Quiz |
| Online | Learning activities | 36 | 12 weeks | 3 | Asynchronous group discussions |
| Unspecified Activities | Independent Learning | 30 | 12 weeks | 2.5 | Technical exploration and research, Production processes, Design development |
| Total Hours: | 150 | Total Hours (per week): | 12.5 | ||
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project 1 | Individual | 50% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Project 2 | Individual | 50% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
Content
- Publication conventions
- Type and image legibility and expression for publication
- Editorial structure, grids, proportions, structure and sequential design for communication
- Managing information and visual hierarchies
- Innovation and experimental formats in a contemporary context including craft skills materials, printing, binding, folding print for facsimile production
- Construction of complex multi-faceted publication design outcomes
- Role of the designer as author in DIY publishing
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.