Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours)
Course handbook
On this page you will find:
General Information
Overview
Tap into emotions. Bring information into order. Help start important conversations. Our Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) is informed by cutting-edge research and practice. In it, you'll gain the high-end strategic and critical thinking skills, and practical production skills to become an imaginative communication designer and researcher.
Study structure
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.
Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.
Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Core units | |
|
Concepts and Narratives
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DCO10001 |
|
Digital Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DCO10002 |
|
Typography
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DCO10005 |
|
Twentieth Century Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DDD10001 |
|
Packaging Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DCO10003 |
|
Photography for Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DCO10004 |
|
Visual Communication Studio
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DCO10007 |
|
Contemporary Design Issues
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DDD20004 |
|
Brand and Identity Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DCO20001 |
|
Typography for Print and Interactive Publication
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DCO20009 |
|
Web Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DCO20004 |
|
Publication Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DDD30013 |
| Major units | |
|
Information Design
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
DCO20003 |
|
Industry Workshops
Major unit, 25.0 credit points |
DCO30011 |
|
Communication Design Strategy
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
DDD30048 |
|
Industry Placement 1
Major unit, 25.0 credit points |
DES30061 |
|
Case Studies in Design Practice
Major unit, 25.0 credit points |
DCO30003 |
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Communication Design Honours Stream | |
|
Studio 1: Methods for Design Research
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points |
DDD40001 |
|
Industry Placement 2
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points |
DES30062 |
|
Design-Led Innovation: Research Project
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points |
DDD40002 |
|
Communication Design Studio
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points |
DCO40001 |
| or | |
| Design Factory Melbourne (Comm Design) | |
|
Studio 1: Methods for Design Research
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points |
DDD40001 |
|
DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 1
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points |
DDD60030 |
|
Bureau: Industry Projects
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points |
DDD40016 |
|
DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 2
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points |
DDD70031 |
Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 50 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).
Advanced minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points in a field of study which builds upon your first major. Advanced minors can only be taken in conjunction with specific majors - more information will be available soon.
3D Modelling and Animation Advanced
- DDD20022 3D Modelling for Objects and Environments
- DDD20023 3D Character Modelling
- DDD30028 3D Character Design and Animation
- DDD30018 3D Animation Project
Visual Effects Advanced
Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.
- Advertising
- Branded Environments
- Digital Advertising Technology
- Entrepreneurship
- Games and Interactivity
- Indigenous Studies
- Innovation
- Motion Design
- Photomedia
- Social Media
These recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.
- ART20002 Experimental Image-Making Processes
- DBE20001 Branded Environment Design Studio 1
- DDD20003 Exhibition Design
- DDD20007 Design Systems and Services
- DDD20009 Photography and Art Direction
- DDD20015 Interaction Design for Web
- DDD20016 Experience Design and Usability for the Web
- DDD20022 3D Modelling for Objects and Environments
- DDD20023 3D Character Modelling
- DDD30011 Compositing for Visual Effects
- DDD30015 Visual Storytelling
- DDD30018 3D Animation Project
- DDD30019 Web Marketing and Advanced Usability
- DDD30020 Interaction Design for Mobile Devices
- DDD30021 Digital Video Compositing
- DDD30028 3D Character Design and Animation
- DDM10005 Imaging for Narrative and Storyboards
- DDM10006 Typography for Screen and Motion
- DDM20003 Digital Video Camera Techniques
- DDM20007 Post Production for Digital Video
- FTV30024 Visual Effects Production
Outcomes and course rules
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours), graduates will be able to:
- develop knowledge and cognitive skills to exercise critical thinking, initiative, and judgement in the design process, while taking responsibility for their own learning and professional practice development
- apply technical and practical skills as well as a broad understanding of the key concepts in communication design to generate design outcomes to a professional standard
- curate the relevant knowledge, cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking in identifying and solving problems independently and collaboratively, in diverse contexts
- create design proposals that articulate a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas to diverse audiences and stakeholders
- develop design solutions that incorporate ethical and socio-ecological frameworks, demonstrating respect and inclusivity towards diverse audiences and Indigenous principles and practices
- implement an organized schedule to deliver complex design projects which include design research methods, collaboration with peers, academics, industry professionals and other stakeholders
- foster and develop professional networks and to synthesise the nexus between research principles and methods and design practice
- apply cognitive skills to exercise critical thinking in developing new understandings of professional communication design problems and research principles, and be able to adapt these in diverse contexts
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.
Course rules
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours), students must complete 400 credit points comprising of:
- twelve [12] Core units of study (150 credit points)
- a combination of 12.5 and 25 credit point units from one of the Communication Design major streams (200 credit points):
- Communication Design stream
- Design Factory Melbourne Projects
- Design Factory Melbourne Global Projects
- four [4] units of study (50 credit points) comprising of a minor or electives
Industry experience
This course includes an industry experience component. Selection processes apply. This may be an external Industry Placement, Industry Projects completed at Swinburne or working in the Design Factory Melbourne.
External industry placement
This is a program in which students are placed in paid, supervised employment, for 24 or 48 weeks, relevant to their studies as part of their degree. It aims to provide experiential, discipline-specific learning in an authentic, real-world environment.
Through observation, enquiry and practice under the supervision and guidance of professional practitioners and an academic mentor, students will engage in professional experiences and test and critically assess their learning to date. The experience contextualises existing design skills within an understanding of the impact of client, customer, team dynamics and direction in the design process.
Industry Placement gives students practical experience to add to their academic studies, and is a proven advantage in the graduate job market. All Industry Placements are subject to availability of places.
Students entering the program with 250 credit points or more are unable to undertake the Industry Placement component of the course.
Honours merit calculation
An honours merit calculation will be based on the averaged results of the last 100 credits in the final year of the course with the following descriptive outcomes:
- Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) with High Distinction for students who achieve 80 or above
- Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) for students who achieve 70 – 79
- Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) with Credit; for students who achieve 60 – 69
- Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) for students who achieve less than 60.
For students who enter with exempted credits, a minimum of at least 100 credits within the Communication Design discipline units is required to be eligible for an award and for an honours merit calculation. At least 75 out of the last 100 credits comply with AQF level 8. This honours merit calculation will be based only on units completed at Swinburne. If a student has not completed the specified units, they will graduate with a Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) as an award title, but not be eligible for a merit based honours description.
The following units will be used in the Honours merit calculation:
4th year - Stream 1 (Communication Design)
- DCO40001 Communication Design Studio
- DDD40001 Studio 1: Methods for Design Research
- DDD40002 Design-led Innovation: Research Project
- DES30062 Industry Placement 2
4th year - Stream 2 (Design Factory Melbourne projects)
- DDD40001 Studio 1: Methods for Design Research
- DDD40016 Bureau: Industry Projects
- DDD60030 DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 1
- DDD70031 DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 2
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) is 200 credit points (normally 16 units)
Admission criteria
Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.
Entry requirements
A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)
ATAR
This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.
Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 80 or higher and meet all the essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer.
Educational history
An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course.
Selection rank adjustments
Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne.
Subject adjustments
A study score of 25 in Art, Applied Fashion Design and Technology B, Product Design and Technology, Media, Interactive Digital Media C, Creative and Digital Media (VCE VET) I, Studio Arts, Systems Engineering or Visual Communication Design equals 4 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 15 points.
Meeting course prerequisites
VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any English (except EAL) or 25 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent and;
Units 3 and 4: satisfactory completion in one of Art Creative Practice, Product Design And Technology, Media, Creative And Digital Media (VCE VET) I, Art Making And Exhibiting or Visual Communication Design
ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2024
| ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds | ATAR Excluding adjustment factors |
Selection Rank ATAR + any adjustment factors |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rank to receive an offer | 99 | 99.35 |
| Median rank to receive an offe | 88.62 | 91.8 |
| Lowest rank to receive an offer | 64.35 | 74.65 |
B. Applicants with higher education study
Educational history
An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years.
Meeting course prerequisites
As for Year 12 or equivalent.
STAT/Bridging courses
Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.
C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study
Educational history
An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered.
Meeting course prerequisites
As for Year 12 or equivalent.
STAT/Bridging courses
Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.
D. Applicants with work and life experience
Entire academic record
This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course.
Meeting course prerequisites
As for Year 12 or equivalent.
STAT/Bridging courses
Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.
Student profile
The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.
| Semester 1, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Applicant background | Number of students | Percentage of all students |
| (A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) | N/P | N/P |
| (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study | 0 | 0% |
| (C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) | 0 | 0% |
(D) Recent secondary education: |
||
| Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether 61 this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) | 18 | 72% |
| Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were N/A considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) | N/A | N/A |
| Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was N/A not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) | N/A | N/A |
| International students | <5 | <5 |
| All students | 25 | 100% |
“<5” – the number of students is less than 5.
N/A – Students not accepted in this category.
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students.
Interested in the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours)?
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