Diploma of Graphic Design

Study at Swinburne > Courses > Find a course > Diploma of Graphic Design

National code: CUA50715 Diploma (TAFE) Hawthorn Send me a link to this course

Balance beauty with function in everyday visual communication and learn how to create designs that stop people in their tracks and change behaviour.

Guided by experienced, current industry professionals in a simulated studio environment, build a solid technical skill set grounded in the design concept process. Focus your creative eye in a specialised area of graphic design such as typography, illustration, branding, packaging, animation, UIUX, digital design or environmental graphics. Work on a range of multidisciplinary projects.

Complete this nationally accredited course with a portfolio ready to wow prospective employers along with a solid understanding of current industry practices - including project management, design strategy, presentation, collaboration, and how to respond to a brief. Or take the next exciting step with the Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design.

Join a tight-knit and vibrant community of designers. Find a life of creativity in advertising agencies, graphic design and finished art studios. Or, you could go into the fast-paced world of publishing, retail advertising, film and television production houses. Interested in politics? Not-for-profits? Fashion? No matter your interests, design skills are needed by pretty much every imaginable organisation. From Paris to Berlin to Tokyo, a career in design will take you wherever in the world you want to go. So take the first exciting step with our diploma.

Apply for your place in the tech-rich future

Excited yet? Our industry-leading TAFE certificates and diplomas are your ticket to a tech-rich future that'll be better than your wildest dreams. All the info is at your fingertips, so what are you waiting for?

Find your way.

Duration

18 months full-time

Intakes

Hawthorn (March) - View application and start dates

Study mode

Full-time

VTAC course code

3400278114
Hawthorn (fee type determined by provider)

This course allows you to pathway to another qualification.

This is a nationally approved vocational course that is recognised throughout Australia.

Student work

Alex, Diploma of Graphic Design
Andrew, Diploma of Graphic Design
Daniel, Diploma of Graphic Design
Leijin, Diploma of Graphic Design
Nyria, Diploma of Graphic Design
Tyson, Diploma of Graphic Design
Zac, Diploma of Graphic Design
Zych, Diploma of Graphic Design
Chris, Diploma of Graphic Design

I learned how to look at designs critically. My illustrations, and their composition, colour and technique, improved dramatically and I was a finalist in the Australian Good Design Award for student packaging. Now, I’m working as a freelance illustrator and designer in one of the illustration hubs of the world – the UK.

Georgia

Diploma of Graphic Design

Course information in detail

- Course detail, course structure and units of study.

Course description

In the Diploma of Graphic Design students learn to create and execute design concepts efficiently and economically. The course teaches students how to combine technical, creative and conceptual skills to meet the demands of contemporary design briefs and solve a range of visual communication problems. Students use traditional and electronic media to assemble production ready artwork for a wide range of outcomes including print, packaging, digital applications & environmental graphics.

Course structure

The Diploma of Graphic Design is comprised of nine core units and 10 elective units. Units of competency are delivered in several modes that include stand-alone, holistic delivery and assessment in classroom and online.

Units of study

Core units

Develop and extend design skills and practice (BSBDES403)

Refine drawing and other visual representation tools (CUAACD501)

Research visual communication history and theory (CUAGRD501)

Produce graphic designs for 2-D and 3-D applications (CUAGRD502)

Produce typographic design solutions (CUAGRD503)

Create and manipulate graphics (CUAGRD504)

Design and manipulate complex layouts (CUAGRD505)

Develop graphic design practice to meet industry needs (CUAGRD506)

Present a body of own creative work (CUAPPR503)

Elective units

Create user interfaces (CUADIG403)

Design digital applications (CUADIG502)

Design interaction (CUADIG506)

Research and apply light and colour (CUAACD504)

Investigate technologies for the creation of digital art (CUADIG509)

Develop graphic designs for the built environment (CUAGRD605)

Develop graphic designs for packaging (CUAGRD606)

Develop and refine illustrative work (CUAILL401)

Capture photographic images (CUAPHI302)

Extend typographic design expertise (CUAGRD603)

Careers and graduate outcomes

- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and graduate skills.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities exist within advertising agencies and the graphic design and finished art studios that service them. Employment may also be found in a number of other areas of the industry, such as publishing (newspaper and magazines), retail advertising, large corporations, printers, film and television production houses, educational institutions and government departments.

Aims and objectives

The course aims to provide participants with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to qualify to work as graphic designers across a wide range of graphic design industry occupations.

Graduate skills

Graduates are good communicators, both visually and verbally, with strong teamwork and problem-solving skills. They are self-motivated and organised with exceptional computer and technical skills.

Pathways and scholarships

- Pathways, credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.

Scholarships

At Swinburne scholarships are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students. Find out more about scholarships.

Pathways

Pathways allow students to progress from one qualification to another where the first course is recognised as an entry requirement and/or provides advanced standing to the second.

Successful completion of Diploma of Graphic Design allows you to progress to this course	Maximum amount of credit available
Bachelor of Design	8 units

This information should be used as a guide for those who have completed a course and are seeking credit into another course. For those yet to commence their course, during the time taken to complete, this information may change. Credit available may vary depending on the major selected within any given degree. Progression to professional degrees may be subject to additional criteria or academic performance.

Learn more about pathways.

Credit

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about credit.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about RPL.

Course fees and requirements

- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.

Course fees

A VET Student Loan is available for this course – allowing you to defer part of your fees if you're eligible.

The maximum VET Student Loan amount for this course is $16,077. You must start repaying this loan once you earn above the compulsory repayment threshold.

Diploma of Graphic Design Estimated course fees for 2021*
*You will need to pay this amount if you do not* receive a VET Student Loan**	$17,240	$10,950	This course is not eligible for Free TAFE
You will need to pay this amount if you do receive a VET Student Loan	$1,163	Fully Covered	This course is not eligible for Free TAFE

Estimated course fees for 2021*

For students who are not granted a Skills First government-subsidised place

For students who are granted a Skills First government-subsidised place

Is this a Free TAFE course?

You will need to pay this amount if you do not receive a VET Student Loan

$17,240

$10,950

This course is not eligible for Free TAFE

You will need to pay this amount if you do receive a VET Student Loan

$1,163

Fully Covered

This course is not eligible for Free TAFE

Fees published on this page are estimates only and are subject to change depending on individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. The above fees apply for units studied in 2020 only and may change for units studied in future years. There may be additional costs related to learning material and equipment.

This course is delivered with state government funding.

Skills First Government-subsidised place
You could be granted a Skills First government-subsidised place when you apply for this course. Check your eligibility now.

Concession rates for vocational students
Concession rates for Diploma and Advanced Diploma programs are also available to Aboriginals or Torres Strait Islanders or Youth Concession students enrolled prior to 1 July 2012 and continuing the same course in 2013.

Full course fee
If you are not granted a government-subsidised place, you will be eligible for the full course fee. Check your eligibility now.

Indicative nominal course hours: 1,045.

Find out more about fees.

Entry requirements

To enter this qualification, individuals must provide evidence of their technical skills and ability to:

produce examples of graphic design work that respond effectively to different design challenges
produce typography that supports the overall design solution
some knowledge of graphic design industry software

Applicants will be required to present a folio of work and attend an interview.

Skills may have been acquired through personal or work experience, or through formal study.

How to apply

Find out more about how to apply.

Find out more

Submit an online enquiry
Tel: 1300 SWINBURNE

Email: study@swinburne.edu.au

Training Organisation Identifier (TOID): 3059