General Information

Overview

Tap into emotions. Bring information into order. Help start important conversations. Our Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) is informed by cutting-edge research and practice. In it, you'll gain the high-end strategic and critical thinking skills, and practical production skills to become an imaginative communication designer and researcher.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated. 

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

Units of study Unit code
Core units
Concepts and Narratives
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO10001
Digital Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO10002
Typography
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO10005
Twentieth Century Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DDD10001
Packaging Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO10003
Photography for Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO10004
Visual Communication Studio
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO10007
Contemporary Design Issues
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DDD20004
Brand and Identity Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO20001
Typography for Print and Interactive Publication
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO20009
Web Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO20004
Publication Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DDD30013
Major units
Information Design
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO20003
Industry Workshops
Major unit, 25.0 credit points
DCO30011
Communication Design Strategy
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
DDD30048
Industry Placement 1
Major unit, 25.0 credit points
DES30061
Case Studies in Design Practice
Major unit, 25.0 credit points
DCO30003
Units of study Unit code
Communication Design Honours Stream
Studio 1: Methods for Design Research
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD40001
Industry Placement 2
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DES30062
Design-Led Innovation: Research Project
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD40002
Communication Design Studio
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DCO40001
or
Design Factory Melbourne (Comm Design)
Studio 1: Methods for Design Research
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD40001
DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 1
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD60030
Bureau: Industry Projects
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD40016
DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 2
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD70031

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 50 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

Advanced minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points in a field of study which builds upon your first major. Advanced minors can only be taken in conjunction with specific majors - more information will be available soon.

3D Modelling and Animation Advanced

Visual Effects Advanced

Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.

  • Advertising
  • Branded Environments
  • Digital Advertising Technology
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Games and Interactivity
  • Indigenous Studies
  • Innovation
  • Motion Design
  • Photomedia
  • Social Media
View minor units

These recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.

  • ART20002 Experimental Image-Making Processes
  • DBE20001 Branded Environment Design Studio 1
  • DDD20003 Exhibition Design
  • DDD20007 Design Systems and Services
  • DDD20009 Photography and Art Direction
  • DDD20015 Interaction Design for Web
  • DDD20016 Experience Design and Usability for the Web
  • DDD20022 3D Modelling for Objects and Environments
  • DDD20023 3D Character Modelling
  • DDD30011 Compositing for Visual Effects
  • DDD30015 Visual Storytelling
  • DDD30018 3D Animation Project
  • DDD30019 Web Marketing and Advanced Usability
  • DDD30020 Interaction Design for Mobile Devices
  • DDD30021 Digital Video Compositing
  • DDD30028 3D Character Design and Animation
  • DDM10005 Imaging for Narrative and Storyboards
  • DDM10006 Typography for Screen and Motion
  • DDM20003 Digital Video Camera Techniques
  • DDM20007 Post Production for Digital Video
  • FTV30024 Visual Effects Production
Find more detail about elective units

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours), graduates will be able to: 

  • apply knowledge of cognitive skills to critically review, analyse, consolidate (apply) and synthesise knowledge in the field of Communication Design and apply this with initiative in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship as preparation for higher degrees
  • apply technical and practical skills, and a broad understanding of Communication Design knowledge with depth in, conceptualisation, visualisation, application, usability and sustainability
  • apply knowledge and creative skills to exercise grounded judgment in design thinking through independent research to identify and solve communication problems collaboratively and/or independently, in diverse contexts
  • apply communication skills to present a clear, coherent and independent understanding of communication design to diverse audiences and stakeholders, explaining the role and significance of the communication design project 
  • apply knowledge of production skills to evaluate environmental considerations and apply principles of sustainability to the development of responsible and accountable design solutions 
  • exercise organisational and leadership skills, and the ability to plan and execute a project and research with groups that may include academics, industry professionals and students 
  • foster and develop professional networks and to synthesise the nexus between research and design practice 
  • apply cognitive skills to exercise critical thinking in developing new understandings of professional communication design problems and research principles, and be able to adapt these in diverse contexts. 

Career opportunities

Graduates may find employment in design consultancy, advertising, publishing, merchandising and government instrumentalities.

Professional recognition

Graduates may be eligible for membership of the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA) and Design Institute of Australia (DIA) and should confirm their eligibility with these entities.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours), students must complete 400 credit points comprising of:

  • 12 Core units of study (150 credit points)
  • a combination of 12.5 and 25 credit point units from one of the Communication Design major streams (200 credit points):
    • Communication Design stream
    • Design Factory Melbourne Projects
    • Design Factory Melbourne Global Projects
  • 4 units of study (50 credit points) comprising of a minor or electives

Industry experience

This course includes an industry experience component. Selection processes apply. This may be an external Industry Placement, Industry Projects completed at Swinburne or working in the Design Factory Melbourne.

External industry placement

This is a program in which students are placed in paid, supervised employment, for 24 or 48 weeks, relevant to their studies as part of their degree. It aims to provide experiential, discipline-specific learning in an authentic, real-world environment.

Through observation, enquiry and practice under the supervision and guidance of professional practitioners and an academic mentor, students will engage in professional experiences and test and critically assess their learning to date. The experience contextualises existing design skills within an understanding of the impact of client, customer, team dynamics and direction in the design process.

Industry Placement gives students practical experience to add to their academic studies, and is a proven advantage in the graduate job market. All Industry Placements are subject to availability of places.

Students entering the program with 250 credit points or more are unable to undertake the Industry Placement component of the course.

 

Honours merit calculation

An honours merit calculation will be based on the averaged results of the last 100 credits in the final year of the course with the following descriptive outcomes:

  • Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) with High Distinction for students who achieve 80 or above
  • Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) for students who achieve 70 – 79
  • Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) with Credit; for students who achieve 60 – 69
  • Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) for students who achieve less than 60.
     

For students who enter with exempted credits, a minimum of at least 100 credits within the Communication Design discipline units is required to be eligible for an award and for an honours merit calculation. At least 75 out of the last 100 credits comply with AQF level 8. This honours merit calculation will be based only on units completed at Swinburne. If a student has not completed the specified units, they will graduate with a Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) as an award title, but not be eligible for a merit based honours description.

The following units will be used in the Honours merit calculation:

4th year - Stream 1 (Communication Design)
  • DES30062 Industry Placement 2 or DDD40014 Advanced Industry Projects
  • DDD40001 Methods for Design Research
  • DCO40001 Communication Design Studio
  • DDD40002 Design-led Innovation: Research Project
     
4th year - Stream 2 (Design Factory Melbourne projects)
  • DDD40001 Methods for Design Research
  • DDD40012 DFM Toolbox: Innovation and Interdisciplinary Collaboration 1
  • DDD40013 DFM Practice: Innovation and Interdisciplinary Collaboration 2
  • DDD40007 Industry Engagement and the Problem Solving Space 
  • DDD40002 Design-led Innovation: Research Project
     
4th year - Stream 3 (Design Factory Melbourne Global projects)
  • DDD40015 Research Methods for Global Design Innovation
  • DDD40010 DFM Global Toolbox: Innovation and Interdisciplinary Collaboration
  • DDD40011 DFM: Global Innovation and Interdisciplinary Collaboration 1
  • DDD40004 DFM: Global Innovation and Interdisciplinary Collaboration 2
  • DDD40005 DFM: Design for Science and Technology 1
  • DDD40006 DFM: Design for Science and Technology 2

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) is 200 credit points (normally 16 units)

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Entry requirements

A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)

ATAR

This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.

Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 80 or higher and meet all the essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer.

Educational history

An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course.

Selection rank adjustments

Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne.

Subject adjustments

A study score of 25 in Art, Applied Fashion Design and Technology B, Product Design and Technology, Media, Interactive Digital Media C, Creative and Digital Media (VCE VET) I, Studio Arts, Systems Engineering or Visual Communication Design equals 4 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 15 points.

Meeting course prerequisites

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in one of Art, Product Design and Technology, Media, Interactive Digital Media C, Creative and Digital Media (VCE VET) I, Studio Arts or Visual Communication Design or equivalent.

ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2023

ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds ATAR
Excluding adjustment factors
Selection Rank
ATAR + any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer 97.9 99.15
Median rank to receive an offe 90.25 92.55
Lowest rank to receive an offer 77.35 85.85

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record 

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

Student profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Semester 1, 2023
Applicant background Number of students Percentage of all students
(A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) <5 <5
(B) Vocational education and training (VET) study 0 0%
(C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) <5 <5

(D) Recent secondary education:

   
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether 61 this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) N/P N/P
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were N/A considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) N/A N/A
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was N/A not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) N/A N/A
International students <5 <5
All students 12 100%
Notes:

“<5” – the number of students is less than 5.
N/A – Students not accepted in this category.
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students.

Interested in the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours)?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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