Communication design involves creating identities, messages, ideas and images that inform, motivate and educate across a range of sectors, from the educational, arts and cultural to commercial and entertainment.

This degree has been the starting point for many of the country’s leading communication designers, and it will prepare you for a vibrant career in the creative visual communications industry. Taught by established academics and designers, you will graduate with an industry-relevant qualification.

A focus on practical learning integrated with design thinking means you will gain the skills and knowledge needed to design stimulating, effective visual communications, and the confidence to create across a range of communication platforms and contexts.

What you'll learn

With an emphasis on studio-based learning, research-led practice, creativity and teamwork you will graduate with the ability to design effective communications applied to diverse contexts. You will:

• learn to design visual communication, from information and publication design, identity, branding and design strategy, to design for motion and interaction
• cover topics inlcuding: typography, branding and identity design, packaging design, drawing and illustration, web and publication design.
• develop practical and technical skills in typography and image design in a variety of media
• learn how to integrate creative skill with design thinking methods to address wide-ranging communication tasks and scenarios

Communication design is a practice based on creative and critical thinking integrated with craft and technical skill. Throughout this degree you will learn how to respond effectively to communication problems through design as you develop the skills to articulate ideas and approaches and to working independently and in a team.

As part of your studies you will also be required to complete design electives, which provide the opportunity for you to further explore areas and pathways of interest. Design electives will be subject to student demand and staff availability.

This industry is expecting strong growth in long-term employment Australia-wide, with the number of job openings over the next few years, until November 2019, expected to be above average1. Graduates enjoy careers in a variety of roles, such as:

• communications designer: specialised graphic designer that uses software applications to create visual design elements for publishers, web developers and multimedia companies 
• graphic designer: create visual concepts to inspire, inform or captivate an audience 
• art director/creative director: responsible for the visual aspects of a publication, campaign, or other published material; a chief liaison between the client and designers 
• animation and motion designer: use graphic software to create animated images 
• illustrator: produce still drawings for use in advertisements, magazines, on packaging, greeting cards and in newspapers 
• typographer: create the typeface that graphically reflects a client’s brief 
• web designer: create and maintain websites, this may include the design, layout and coding 
• packaging designer: create 2D graphics for 3D forms, and see your ideas to come life on the shelf.

Creativity, interpersonal skills, motivation, commitment and, of course, excellent communication skills, are all qualities of a successful communication designer.

1Australian Government Department of Employment, Occupational Employment Projections 2015

Professional accreditation and recognition

Graduates of this program are eligible for Graduate Membership of the Design Institute of Australia. Graduates are eligible for Associate Membership of the Design Institute of Australia after two years of professional practice.