F2010 Bachelor of Design
Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture
Bachelor of Design (F2010) is a 3 years full-time, 144-credit-point, bachelor degree course from the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, taught at Caulfield. Map your units semester by semester with the MonMap planner.
- Credit points
- 144
- Duration
- 3 years full time
- 6 years part time
- Campus
- Caulfield
- On campus
- Guaranteed ATAR
- 70
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2026 entry.
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Requisite map
Overview
Design is a constantly evolving discipline that actively responds to a rapidly changing world. With a focus on people-centred futures, and embracing a creative problem-solving mindset, it is a profession with a vital role to play in the twenty-first century. It is an interdisciplinary practice concerned with improving human experiences; adding cultural value; contributing to the world’s economy; and, providing intelligent solutions to emerging local and global challenges. Through diverse, thoughtful, innovative and sustainable design processes, designers create spatial experiences, objects and systems, and communication solutions, that influence behavior, activate interaction and respond to both personal and public needs.
The Bachelor of Design will enable you to build a high level of design expertise in one of the following specialist areas of study:
- Collaborative design
- Communication design
- Industrial design
- Spatial design
Course structure
Rules
Part A. History and theory studies30 credit points
Part B. Drawing foundation6 credit points
Part C. Design studios60 credit points
You must complete the requirements for one of the specialisations - Collaborative design OR Communication design OR Industrial design OR Spatial design. Studio units 4 and 5 must be completed in your chosen specialisation.
To complete the 60 credit points for the Design studio component, you may complete ALL Studio units in your chosen specialisation, OR you may take EITHER Studio 2 OR Studio 3 from an alternative specialisation: Collaborative design OR Communication design OR Industrial design OR Spatial design.
Collaborative design
48 credit pointsCommunication design
48 credit pointsIndustrial design
48 credit pointsSpatial design
48 credit pointsPart D. Occupational health and safety study
Part E. Free elective study48 credit points
Alternatively, you may choose to select electives from across the university (provided you satisfy the unit rules) to broaden your interdisciplinary perspectives.
The handbook's description of this structure
The course develops through theme studies in history and theory, a drawing foundation, design studios specific to each of the specialist areas of study, and a range of self-selected elective units. These will come together in the form of a graduand exhibition 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 that enable you to contextualise your own thinking and making in relation to the broader spectrum of global practices. These units will develop your ability to communicate ideas and strategies. Through the duel lens of historic and contemporary practice, 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 responsible design practices.
Part B. Drawing foundation
This will assist you to develop the practical and intellectual skills required by 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.
Part E. Free elective study
Deepen your knowledge by selecting electives from the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, including gaining workplace experience by selecting an internship unit as an elective and enriching your degree by using free electives for Monash Abroad opportunities. Alternatively, you may choose to select electives from across the university (provided you satisfy the unit rules) to broaden your interdisciplinary perspectives.
Course progression map
The course progression maps provide guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study. Please ensure that you refer to the correct course map for your semester of commencement:
The course comprises 144 points, of which 96 points are focussed on the study of design and 48 points are free electives.
The course develops through theme studies in: A. History and theory studies (30 points), B. Drawing foundation (6 points), and C. Design studios (60 points) specific to each of the specialist areas of study, Part D. Occupational health and safety study (0 points), and Part E. Free elective study (48 points).
Elective units may be at any level, however, no more than 60 points are to be completed at level 1 in the design course.
Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.
Part A. History and theory studies (30 points)
You must complete:
- BLK1000 Indigenous Australian creative practice and ways of knowing
- TDN1002 Design and the avant-garde
- TDN2001 Sociologies of design
- TDN3001 Research for design
- TDN3002 Design strategy and professional practice
Part B. Drawing foundation (6 points)
You must complete:
- DWG1201 Drawing: Introduction
Part C. Design studios (60 points)
You must complete:
- DGN1000 Design studio 1 (12 points)
Collaborative design
You must complete:
- COL1002 Collaborative design studio 2 (12 points)
- COL2001 Collaborative design studio 3 (12 points)
- COL3001 Collaborative design studio 4 (12 points)
- COL3002 Collaborative design studio 5 (12 points)
The Collaborative design specialist area of study requires you to complete a minimum of 36 points from the collaborative design studio units. Collaborative design studios 4 and 5 must be completed for this specialist area of study. A total maximum of 24 points can be taken in units at level 1.
Communication design
You must complete:
- CDS1002 Communication design studio 2 (12 points)
- CDS2001 Communication design studio 3 (12 points)
- CDS3001 Communication design studio 4 (12 points)
- CDS3002 Communication design studio 5 (12 points)
The Communication design specialist area of study requires you to complete a minimum of 36 points from the communication design studio units. Communication design studios 4 and 5 must be completed for this specialist area of study. A total maximum of 24 points can be taken in units at level 1.
Industrial design
You must complete:
- IDN1002 Industrial design studio 2 (12 points)
- IDN2001 Industrial design studio 3 (12 points)
- IDN3001 Industrial design studio 4 (12 points)
- IDN3002 Industrial design studio 5 (12 points)
The Industrial design specialist area of study requires you to complete a minimum of 36 points from the industrial design studio units. Industrial design studios 4 and 5 must be completed for this specialist area of study. A total maximum of 24 points can be taken in units at level 1.
Spatial design
You must complete:
- SDN1002 Spatial design studio 2 (12 points)
- SDN2001 Spatial design studio 3 (12 points)
- SDN3001 Spatial design studio 4 (12 points)
- SDN3002 Spatial design studio 5 (12 points)
The Spatial design specialist area of study requires you to complete a minimum of 36 points from the spatial design studio units. Spatial design studios 4 and 5 must be completed for this specialist area of study. A total maximum of 24 points can be taken in units at level 1.
Part D. Occupational health and safety study (0 points)
You must complete:
- OHS1000 Introduction to art and design health and safety
Part E. Free elective study (48 points)
Deepen your knowledge by selecting electives from the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, including gaining workplace experience by selecting an internship unit as an elective and enriching your degree by using free electives for Monash Abroad opportunities. Alternatively, you may choose to select electives from across the university (provided you satisfy the unit rules) to broaden your interdisciplinary perspectives.
Free electives can be identified using the [[http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/search][browse units]] tool and [[http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/][indexes of units]] in the current edition of the Handbook. [[http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/aos/index-bydomain_type-major.html][Majors]] and [[http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/aos/index-bydomain_type-minor.html][minors]] can also be identified using the Handbook indexes. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 1-3. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.
If you are in a double degree course, some units required for the other degree are credited as electives for the design degrees.
Learning outcomes
These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework and Monash Graduate Attributes.
Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:
- 1
Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of design elements, principles, theories, and practices, including their relationship to historical and contemporary issues surrounding society, culture, the environment, emerging technologies, and the economy as key focus areas;
- 2
Apply relevant design knowledge, skills, critical thinking, and curiosity to effectively address design challenges using current and emerging design technologies and adapting solutions to be context-sensitive and suitable for the audience;
- 3
Integrate diverse perspectives including peer feedback, lived experience, and professional expertise through design outcomes that meaningfully respond to global challenges such as inequality, sustainability, and access to resources;
- 4
Collaborate with individuals and in groups, including external stakeholders, to create meaningful design solutions for real-world challenges, demonstrating empathy and social responsibility while effectively communicating outcomes to stakeholders and diverse audiences;
- 5
Commit to ethical, environmental, and socially responsible design practices, prioritising the needs and well-being of individuals and communities, and recognising the broader impact of these practices locally and globally;
- 6
Engage in self-reflective practice to identify personal challenges, successes, and growth, fostering curiosity as a tool for inquiry and developing a nuanced understanding of your design practice and its potential applications across key focus areas;
- 7
Identify and apply occupational health and safety measures appropriate to the area of study.
Entry requirements
Guaranteed ATAR and selection rank
70; International: UERT Year 12/Foundation Band 1 (70-72.49); UERT Post-Secondary Band 2 (Credit)
Other applicants
All applicants must satisfy the equivalence of the VCE subject prerequisites.VET Certificate IV, diploma or advanced diploma graduates: To be considered, applicants will normally require at least 60% average. Preference will be given to students whose prior studies are related to the course in which they are seeking admission. Programs that involve competency-based assessment without grades or marks will not meet the admission requirements.University: Two single units at an Australian higher education institution satisfy minimum entry requirements, but more units may be useful for selection, especially in areas of study related to the course in which admission is being sought.
English language
Monash Level A, that is: IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (no band lower than 6.0); or Pearson Test of English (Academic): score of 58 overall with no band lower than 50; or TOEFL Internet-based test: score of 79 overall with minimum scores: Writing: 21, Listening: 12, Reading: 13 and Speaking: 18; or Equivalent approved English test
Pathways
Monash College - Diploma of Art & Design
Design (Indigenous Entry)
More information
Progression to further studies
Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to a postgraduate coursework degree, including the Master of Design (F6002).
Notes for students
You can enrich your degree to hone your academic and professional skills with a range of Flagship Rich Educational Experiences (FREE). These flagship rich educational experience units may be credited utilising your free electives, or alternatively in place of your discipline specific electives (up to 6 credit points) if approved by the faculty. There are both 6 and 12 credit point unit options available.*
For information on eligibility please see FREE.
*If you are enrolled in a double degree it may be possible to utilise credit from one or both of your degrees to do a 6 and/or 12 credit point flagship rich educational experience. For information on eligible double degree combinations please see FREE.
Other information
Design is a constantly evolving discipline that actively responds to a rapidly changing world. With a focus on people-centred futures, and embracing a creative problem-solving mindset, it is a profession with a vital role to play in the twenty-first century. It is an interdisciplinary practice concerned with improving human experiences; adding cultural value; contributing to the world’s economy; and, providing intelligent solutions to emerging local and global challenges. Through diverse, thoughtful, innovative and sustainable design processes, designers create spatial experiences, objects and systems, and communication solutions, that influence behavior, activate interaction and respond to both personal and public needs.
The Bachelor of Design will enable you to build a high level of design expertise in one of the following specialist areas of study:
- Collaborative design
- Communication design
- Industrial design
- Spatial design
Common questions
How long is Bachelor of Design?
3 years full time, 144 credit points. At 24 credit points a semester, that is 6 semesters of full-time study.
What ATAR do I need for Bachelor of Design?
The guaranteed ATAR listed for 2025 entry is 70.
Where can I study Bachelor of Design?
At Caulfield.
How do I plan my Bachelor of Design units?
Open the course in the MonMap planner. It lays out your semesters, checks prerequisites as you drag units in, and tracks the credit points each requirement still needs.
Course details
- Qualification
- Bachelor Degree
- AQF level
- Level 7
- Credit points
- 144
- Full time
- 3 Years
- Part time
- 6 Years
- Maximum time
- 8 years
- Faculty
- Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture
- CRICOS code
- 085345E
- Abbreviation
- BDes
- Award titles
- Bachelor of Industrial DesignBachelor of Communication DesignBachelor of Spatial DesignBachelor of Collaborative Design