Overview

This unit focuses on the fundamental skills for design communication, and is transferable between both 2D and 3D applications. It aims to provide students with a foundation to communicate design ideas using freehand and instrumental drawing as well as sketch modelling skills. A variety of illustration and visual presentation techniques using mixed media will also be explored.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
20-October-2025
30-January-2026
Last self-enrolment date
02-November-2025
Census date
14-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
12-December-2025
Results released date
10-February-2026
Pathways Teaching 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
23-February-2026
29-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
08-March-2026
Census date
24-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
14-April-2026
Results released date
09-June-2026
Pathways Teaching 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
22-June-2026
25-September-2026
Last self-enrolment date
05-July-2026
Census date
21-July-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
11-August-2026
Results released date
06-October-2026
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
19-October-2026
29-January-2027
Last self-enrolment date
01-November-2026
Census date
17-November-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
15-December-2026
Results released date
09-February-2027

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Apply observation and drawing skills with control, confidence and continuity
  • Apply a variety of drawing materials, techniques, styles, and applications to an illustrated project
  • Prepare 2D and 3D renderings using techniques for quick marker application, and using highlight, shadows, hues and colour saturation to depict form and space
  • Apply industry related drawing conventions and produce drawings of a technical nature
  • Produce sketches to communicate ideas for symbols, layouts, and concepts in space

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Live Online Workshop 12 12 weeks 1
On-campus Studio 24 12 weeks 2
On-campus Studio 24 12 weeks 2
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 90 12 weeks 7.5
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Project 1 Individual  30 - 40%  1,2,3,5
Project 2  Individual 30 - 40%  1,2,3,5 
Project 3 Individual 30 - 40%  3,4,5

Content

  • Composition exploration
  • Research and documentation of ideas
  • Hierarchies, composition, spatial manipulation and layout
  • Observation, drawing, page layout and visualisation
  • Drawing and rendering techniques
  • Illustration as a form of expression and communication
  • Methods for transforming concepts into a visual medium.
  • Synthesis of Form and Content
  • Use of a variety of drawing media and techniques
  • Application of technical drawing conventions
  • Idea generation
  • Perspective Drawing (1-point and 2-point perspective)
  • 2D and 3D Rendering

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.