F2009 Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Media Communication

Double degree courses include the features of the component degree courses, except that electives may be reduced.

Design

F2010 Bachelor of Design is a specialist course that develops through theme studies in history and theory, drawing foundation, and design studios specific to collaborative design, communication design, industrial design and spatial design. These will come together in the form of a graduand exhibition normally developed during the final two studio units in the third year of the course.

Part A. History and theory studies

History and theory units will equip you with the skills necessary to research design issues and enable you to contextualise your own practice and communicate ideas and strategies. Through the prism of history, you will begin to situate the place of design in society by referencing pivotal art, design and architecture movements. Later units address issues of culture, society and specific design themes.

Part B. Drawing foundation

This will assist you to develop the practical and intellectual skills required for art, design and architecture students in the discipline of drawing.

Part C. Design studios

This is the component of the course through which you will develop key skills and concepts particular to your design discipline.

In the collaborative design studio units you will create purposeful responses to contemporary social, cultural, and environmental challenges by employing co-design principles, mindsets, and methods. You will explore the specialist and transferable characteristics of collaborative design through simple and complex challenges. Through thematic-based projects, you’ll discover Design as a catalyst for collaboration, curiosity, learning, and impactful action. By immersing yourself in these studio units, you will experience the intersection of creativity and collaboration, and experience design as a relational, social, cultural and political practice with tangible impact.

In the communication design studio units you will undertake an exploration of traditional and emergent media and communication processes. You will learn to engage with and manipulate core design elements including typography, imagery, two and three-dimensional artefacts, interactivity, sound and motion, as key components to communication design solutions. Studio-based projects across both print and digital media platforms will develop skills in narrative story-telling, visible language, image construction and manipulation, interactive communication processes, production methods and technologies, and the planning and management of design outcomes.

In the industrial design studio units you will undertake a focused exploration of the range of issues, skills and techniques vital to the realisation of resolved product and object design. The studio units introduce you to the elements of industrial design including usability, form language and manufacturing. By carrying out industrial design projects, you will learn and apply skills in visualisation, interface design, model making, ergonomics, materials, manufacturing and production methods and technologies.

The spatial design studio units provide the opportunity to experiment with creative ideas while gaining an advanced understanding of the principles of spatial design. You will learn to translate your 2 dimensional concepts into 3 dimensional installations. Studio projects range from real client briefs involving cultural, commercial and community organisations to more speculative briefs that explore the opportunities and challenges of a continually transforming contemporary society. Through the sequence of studio units you will learn to create unique spaces and also how to adapt existing spaces to reflect your design ideas.


Part D. Occupational health and safety study

This will introduce you to occupational health, safety and environmental training particularly within the context of studying art, design and architecture.

Media Communication

A2002 Bachelor of Media Communication is a specialist course, developed through three themes that combine to underpin media communication practice: Part A. Strategic knowledge. Part B. Practical and professional skills and Part C. Collaboration and leadership. Part D involves free elective studies. . In the double degree course you complete:

Part A. Strategic knowledge

These studies build your competence in analysing and understanding the current state and past developments in media communication locally and globally; understanding impacts of media and communication transformation, and media power; creating future scenarios and media communication visions by developing your preparedness and adaptability for future media communication change and creativity

Part B. Practical and professional skills

This involves developing your competencies in linking knowledge and media practice in professional contexts, such as conceptual and implementation skills, project and content management skills, hands-on experience in putting knowledge into practice, and thereby testing and creatively experimenting with (strategic) knowledge about media transitions and transformations. It also involves developing your competency in ethical and legal aspects of media communication.

Part C. Collaboration and leadership

This involves competencies necessary for you to work in teams and in different knowledge communities and media communication professional settings. It includes competence in engaging with stakeholders, media literacy, and participatory research and media making in collaboration with experts from academia, industry, government, and the community. It also includes competency in social and cross-cultural awareness.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

You must complete 192 points, of which 96 points are from the Bachelor of Design (including all the requirements in Parts A, B, C and D of the chosen specialisation) and 96 points from the Bachelor of Media Communication (including all the requirements in Parts A, B and C for the single degree).

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.