Overview

This unit seeks to introduce students to the fundamentals of visual design. It aims to facilitate the exploration of fundamental visual design elements, principles and practice, providing students with a foundation for further communication design-based projects. Using image, type and meaning, students explore different methods to graphically represent their environment, including objects and place.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
04-November-2024
09-February-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-November-2024
Census date
29-November-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
27-December-2024
Results released date
04-March-2025
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
07-July-2025
05-October-2025
Last self-enrolment date
20-July-2025
Census date
01-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
22-August-2025
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
03-November-2025
08-February-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-November-2025
Census date
28-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-January-2026
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Engage with research, design process methods and models relevant to design enquiry
  • Document and organise design research, concept and design development to then develop design proposals
  • Critically evaluate and reflect on design process and project outcomes
  • Develop hand crafted graphics and typography to create project outcomes
  • Implement highly developed project outcomes using appropriate computer software applications

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week Venue Type and Activity Detail
On-campus Studio 36 12 weeks 3  
Unspecified Activities Various 60 12 weeks 5 Watch weekly videos, Independent visual research, In-depth design exploration, Quiz
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 54 12 weeks 4.5 Project completion, Documenting design process
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5  

All Applicable Locations

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week Venue Type and Activity Detail
Online Learning activities 48 12 weeks 4  
Unspecified Activities Various 60 12 weeks 5 Watch weekly videos, Independent visual research, In-depth design exploration, Quiz
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 42 12 weeks 3.5 Project completion, Documenting design process
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5  

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Project 1Individual 10% 1,2 
Project 1Individual 40% 1,2,3,4 
Project 2Individual 50% 1,2,3,5 

Content

The unit introduces students to aspects of the practice of communication design. Topics include:

  • Collecting, analysing and interpreting research-based material
  • Planning, management and documentation of design projects
  • Creative problem solving strategies and idea generation methods
  • Combining word, image and idea to create effective communication
  • Design elements and principles as a basis for developing form suitable for visual communication
  • Spatial organisation methods
  • Critical evaluation, reflection and review

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.