Critical and strategic thinking, aesthetic and conceptual experimentation, media literacy and the power of research drive our teaching and learning. Across the fields of communication design, branded environments, motion design, photomedia and user experience interaction design, our students and staff explore models of designer as author, producer, entrepreneur and innovator in pursuit of design excellence and design’s future.  

Explore our courses

Our projects

Marngo Designing Futures

This digital storytelling program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students seeks to build confidence, resilience, youth entrepreneurship and leadership capacity while raising awareness of career pathways in design, media and film.

Read more (Marngo Designing Futures )
Friday 27 August 2021
  • Design

Digital projection lights up Melbourne Knowledge Week

Massive digital projection forms a vibrant centrepiece at Melbourne Knowledge Week 2018.
Read more (Digital projection lights up Melbourne Knowledge Week)
Thursday 30 August 2018

Sensory Science Exhibition

Audiences are plunged into a world where they can see, touch and hear microscopic viruses. 

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Friday 27 August 2021
  • Design

Swinburne Design helps teenage girls to improve pelvic floor health

Go Against the Flow is a digital space where girls can talk about pelvic floor health issues.
Read more (Swinburne Design helps teenage girls to improve pelvic floor health )
Friday 11 May 2018
  • Design

664 Collins St Media Wall lights up with Swinburne Digital Design

Swinburne student works at 664 Collins Street went live at a gala opening event
Read more (664 Collins St Media Wall lights up with Swinburne Digital Design)
Monday 13 August 2018

Our people

Name Position Contact
Associate Professor Carolyn Barnes Academic Director, Research and Training +61 3 9214 6579 cbarnes@swinburne.edu.au
Andrew Budge Lecturer; Coordinator of Industry Placement +61 3 9214 4924 abudge@swinburne.edu.au
Anna Caione Academic Tutor acaione@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Jane Connory Deputy Department Chair, Course Director Master of Design, Communication Design Lecturer jconnory@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Dylan Davis Lecturer +61 3 9214 6199 ddavis@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Alison de Kruiff Discipline Leader, UX Interaction Design; Lecturer +61 3 9214 6456 alisondekruiff@swinburne.edu.au
Anthony Elliott  Course Director Communication Design Honours aelliott@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Stuart Favilla Lecturer sfavilla@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Glenn Finley Lecturer gfinley@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Emma Fisher Manager SoDA Accelerator, Lecturer efisher@swinburne.edu.au
Joanna Gardener Lecturer +61 3 9214 6496 jgardener@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Andrew Haig Department Chair; Lecturer +61 3 9214 4807 ahaig@swinburne.edu.au
Associate Professor Stephen Huxley Discipline Leader, Communication Design, Associate Professor +61 3 9214 6909 shuxley@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Andrew Lane Lecturer +61 3 9214 6046 alane@swinburne.edu.au
Lucas Licata Lecturer, Discipline Leader, Motion Design (Acting) +61 3 9214 6155 llicata@swinburne.edu.au
Morganna Magee Discipline Leader, Photomedia; Lecturer mmagee@swinburne.edu.au
Dr James Marshall Senior Lecturer +61 3 9214 6089 jgmarshall@swinburne.edu.au
David McBurney Academic Tutor dmcburney@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Jeni Paay Director, Centre for Design Innovation +61 3 9214 5615 jpaay@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Belinda Paulovich Lecturer +61 3 9214 6503 bpaulovich@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Sonja Pedell Professor +61 3 9214 6079 spedell@swinburne.edu.au
Professor Simone Taffe Professor of Communication Design +61 3 9214 6612 staffe@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Shivani Tyagi Studio Director, Bureau +61 3 9214 6198 styagi@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Adam Walker Academic Tutor adwalker@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Christopher Waller Academic Director Pathways and Partnerships, Lecturer +61 3 9214 6903 cwaller@swinburne.edu.au
Dr Emily Wright Program Coordinator, Bachelor of Design; Lecturer +61 3 9214 6093 emwright@swinburne.edu.au

Latest news

  • University
  • Media and Communication

Swinburne University of Technology partners with Grande Experiences and THE LUME Melbourne for cutting-edge Immersive Media education

Swinburne University of Technology is proud to announce its partnership with Grande Experiences and THE LUME Melbourne, enhancing the future of Immersive Media education.

Read more (Swinburne University of Technology partners with Grande Experiences and THE LUME Melbourne for cutting-edge Immersive Media education)
Thursday 13 June 2024
  • University

Prestigious QS ranking recognises Swinburne in 12 subject areas

QS has ranked Swinburne among the world’s best universities in areas including engineering and technology, natural sciences, and arts and humanities.
Read more (Prestigious QS ranking recognises Swinburne in 12 subject areas)
Wednesday 04 March 2020
Two people study a large wooden wave, made from interlocking cubes. Small plastic versions of the structure in different wave forms sit on the table in front.
  • Design

Historical armour inspires contemporary architecture

Swinburne PhD candidate Nabila Afif is using chainmail as inspiration to create flexible, reconfigurable and transportable architecture
Read more (Historical armour inspires contemporary architecture)
Tuesday 31 October 2023
Swinburne alum Trinity Ross speaking
  • Design

Swinburne design alum changing the world one idea at a time

Swinburne communication design alum Trinity Ross, at the helm of her own creative agency, believes that creativity and design can change the world.

Read more (Swinburne design alum changing the world one idea at a time)
Friday 01 September 2023
  • Design

Swinburne digital artist documenting Antarctic research vessel’s last voyage

Dr John McCormick is setting off for Antarctica this week as part of the 2019/20 Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship.
Read more (Swinburne digital artist documenting Antarctic research vessel’s last voyage)
Monday 20 January 2020

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Contact the Department of Communication Design 

For general enquiries, please call +61 3 9214 5373 or send an email to SoDAacademicsupport@swinburne.edu.au. 

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