Visual Communication

Purpose

This Visual Communication and Design course aims to develop knowledge, understanding and skills to communicate ideas and information, as well as using appropriate language to describe and evaluate the work of other designers, and that students produce. Students are encouraged to develop their ability to think and solve problems creatively and imaginatively using freehand drawing, instrumental drawing and rendering, both by hand and using digital illustration software.

Structure and Content

The content (as shown below) includes Arts Practice and Responding to the Arts. Each Semester covers 3 to 4 main topics, supported by minor learning topic areas. Each main topic culminates in the student presenting a final artwork. Students are required to complete given design tasks, which they are encouraged to solve creatively and imaginatively. 

Some topics include: 

• Applying the Design Elements and Principles 

• Research Assignments 

• Advertisement Analysis 

• Writing and responding to a Design Brief 

• Instrumental Technical Drawing 

• Observational drawing and tonal rendering 

• Creative visualisation drawing 

• Packaging or print design 

• Two-point perspective 

• Architectural drafting and rendering 

• Product Design

Students are given opportunities to develop skills in layout design, typography, rendering and drafting using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator software.