Visual Communication Design

Visual Communication Design focuses on learning about visual language; how to build creative thinking and design making skills in order to effectively communicate, problem-solve, and influence behaviour. Over the course of Units 1 - 4, students learn about and apply a design process to develop their work. This is a cyclical process involving idea generation, feedback and resolution. Students will learn about audience and context, effectively selecting and manipulating type and imagery to cater for client needs. To achieve success, they will develop skills in a range of manual and digital methods, media and materials, combining them with design elements and principles to resolve and present designs. Students will consider factors like ‘good design’, aesthetics, sustainability, and cultural appropriateness. Students will analyse how designers visually convey concepts and improve services, spaces, and online experiences. This will further enrich their own design practice. 

Unit 1: Finding, Reframing and Resolving Design Problems

Unit 1 introduces students to the practices and processes used by designers to identify and solve design problems that focus on improving the lives of people, communities, and societies.

Students learn the value of research methods to understand the perspectives of stakeholders and prepare design criteria. They explore different notions of good design and integrate divergent and convergent thinking into their future design projects.

Unit 2: Design Contexts and Connections

Unit 2 delves deeper into the field of visual communication practices established in Unit 1. Students build upon their understanding of good design, human-centered research, and influential design factors as they explore the complete VCD (Visual Communication Design) design process. 

The unit focuses on practical tasks related to designing environments and interactive experiences, incorporating elements from fields like architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and user-experience (UX) design. Students learn to consider contextual factors and user needs while developing spaces and interfaces, drawing inspiration from historical movements and cultural design traditions. They also explore ethical considerations, cultural ownership, and intellectual property in design.

Unit 3: Visual Communication in Design Practices

In Unit 3, students delve into the world of designers, exploring their work processes and analysing their designs. They study contemporary designers in various fields of design practice to gain a deep understanding of how messages, objects, environments, and interactive experiences are designed. Students compare the working contexts, relationships, responsibilities, and the role of visual language in communicating and resolving design ideas. They also examine the evolving nature of professional design practice and develop their own practical skills in visual communication. 

Unit 4: Delivering Design Solutions

In Unit 4, students focus on refining and presenting design solutions for two communication needs. They evaluate, select, and refine ideas developed in Unit 3, Outcome 3, using an iterative cycle that involves reworking ideas, revisiting research, and reviewing design criteria. Both manual and digital methods are explored, and design concepts are tested using models or prototypes. Students devise a pitch to justify their design decisions and respond to feedback through final refinements. They choose appropriate materials, methods, and media to present distinct design solutions that meet the requirements of the brief. 

Assessment

Prerequisites: There are none for entry to Units 1, 2 and 3. Students must undertake Units 3 and 4 as a sequence within one calendar year. 

Satisfactory Completion: Achievement of the set of outcomes specified for the unit.

Levels of Achievement: 

Units 1 and 2: A range of school based assessment tasks, including end of year exam, will be utilised to record the standard achieved by students.

Units 3 and 4: School- assessed coursework / end-of-year exams.

• Unit 3 School-assessed Coursework  20 %

• Unit 3 and 4 School-assessed Task    50 %

• End-of-year examination  30 %