Undergraduate - UnitVCO1303 - The language of graphic design

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture
Organisational Unit	Department of Design
Offered	Not offered in 2015
Coordinator(s)	Mr Ned Culic

Synopsis

In this subject students will study the work of innovative visual designers from Modernism until the present. They will analyse how designers use pictorial images and words to convey meanings; and how they achieve this by employing a form of visual language equivalent to written language. Through studying design solutions created in contexts ranging from mainstream graphic design and advertising through to socio-political messages and imagery made by non-designers, the students will develop a referential understanding of the potential of visual language for designers. They will then be required to apply this knowledge to the making of designs employing similar problem-solving strategies.

Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

understand the breadth of communication elements used within graphic design including metaphor, juxtaposition, parody, wit and humour
understand the development of modern graphic design and its associated conceptual and intellectual development
clearly understand the language and grammar of visual communication
utilise a thorough comprehension of this language in the execution of their own projects
observe and employ occupational health and safety appropriate to studio practice.

Assessment

Investigation project: 40%; design application: 50%; small studio exercices: 10%

Workload requirements

4 studio hours and 8 independent study hours per week.

Chief examiner(s)

Mr Ned Culic

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in an Art & Design course