Case Studies in Design Practice
Overview
This unit equips students with creative, critical thinking and research skills to navigate the complexities of communication design practice in the Australian context. Completed alongside Industry Placement or Industry Projects, it introduces approaches for researching industry practices, processes and cultural dynamics. It approaches Australian communication design as both a creative and commercial industry, prompting reflection on career pathways, professional identity and the realities of creative labour. Students develop skills in qualitative research while producing a small publication to profile themselves as a designer, enabling them to communicate their unique value in an industry increasingly shaped by generative AI.
Requisites
AND
250 credit points in BH-DESCMN2 Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours)
02-November-2025
01-November-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Identify, analyse and evaluate relevant academic and industry texts to frame a research topic within the context of Australian communication design practice
- Design and implement a qualitative research project, selecting and applying appropriate research approaches and methods to investigate industry practices, cultures and processes
- Synthesise insights from primary and secondary research, drawing evidence-based conclusions through a coherent and critically informed analytical process
- Communicate research findings clearly and persuasively
- Demonstrate an emerging professional identity by producing a designer profile publication that articulates personal positioning, values and unique contributions in response to current industry conditions
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Activity Type | Activity | Total Hours | Number of Weeks | Hours Per Week | Venue Type and Activity Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus | Studio | 72 | 12 weeks | 6 | |
| Online | Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 60 | 10 weeks | 6 | Readings, Videos, Immersive Interactive Artefacts, Online quizzes |
| Unspecified Activities | Independent Learning | 132 | 12 weeks | 11 | Independent research, Assignment preparation |
| On-campus | Studio | 36 | 12 weeks | 3 | |
| Total Hours: | 300 | Total Hours (per week): | 26 | ||
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Report | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Literature Review | Individual | 20% | 1,2,3 |
| Design Report | Individual | 30% | 3,5 |
| Quizzes | Individual | 10% | 1,2 |
Content
- Conducting original research into the culture, environment, practices and processes of the communication design industry.
- Developing literature review skills to critically engage with current topics and theories in creative industries scholarship.
- Understanding and applying interview method as a key form of experiential qualitative research, including research design, formulating effective research and interview questions, and structuring interviews to elicit designers’ perspectives on their industry and practice.
- Analysing qualitative data using thematic analysis and other interpretation methods relevant to understanding the lived experiences of creative practitioners.
- Producing a small publication to articulate a distinct identity as a communication designer in Australia.
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.