Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Media Communication - 2018

The Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Media Communication is a unique, globally-relevant double degree offering that unites the creative visual language of communication design with the literary and narrative skills of professional communication. The double degree offers a practice-led program of education that will empower you with the analytical and critical thinking skills required for a changing world. It brings together the opportunity for journalism, media, screen, digital humanities, and public relations to intersect with design thinking, branding, illustration, typography, motion graphics, web design, interactive and virtual media, and publication design. The business of communication is a flourishing global industry, increasingly enabled by digital and visual literacy; emergent technologies and media-rich communities. The intersection of these two complimentary degrees provides you with a creative, next-generation skill set in design and media that opens multiple opportunities to work in, contribute to, and shape the future of contemporary communication.

The requirements below detail what you must study in order to complete this double-degree course and receive the awards.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise specified. You must complete 192 points:

1. 96 points must be completed in Parts A, B, C and D as described below in F2002 Bachelor of Design component.

2. 96 points must be completed in Parts A, B and C as described below in A2002 Bachelor of Media Communication component.

Design component

Bachelor of Design is a specialist course that develops through theme studies in history and theory, drawing foundation, and design studios specific to each of the specialisations. These will come together in the form of a graduand exhibition normally developed during the final two studio units in the course.

Part A. History and theory studies (30 points)

History and theory units will equip you with the skills necessary to research design issues, and enable you to contextualise your own practice and communicate ideas and strategies. Through the prism of history, you will begin to situate the place of design in society by referencing pivotal art, design and architecture movements. Later units address issues of culture, society and specific design themes.

You must complete:

• AHT1101 Introduction to visual culture in art, design and architecture
• TDN1002 Design and the avant-garde
• TDN2001 Sociologies of design
• TDN3001 Research for design
• TDN3002 Design strategy and professional practice or TDN3003Not offered in 2018 Design criticism

Part B. Drawing foundation (6 points)

This will assist you to develop the practical and intellectual skills required by art, design and architecture students in the discipline of drawing.

You must complete:

• DWG1201 Drawing 1

Part C. Design studios (60 points)

This is the component of the course through which you will develop key skills and concepts particular to your design discipline.

In the communication design studio units you will undertake a focussed exploration of a range of media and elements including typography, image, layout, two and three-dimensional design, interactivity, sound and motion as core components to communication design solutions. Studio-based projects across both print and digital media platforms will develop skills in narrative structure, typography, image construction and manipulation, interactive communication processes, production methods and technologies, and the planning and management of design outcomes.

In the industrial design studio units you will undertake a focussed exploration of the range of issues, skills and techniques vital to the realisation of user-centred design. Through industrial design projects, you will learn about topics such as visualisation techniques, ergonomics, materials, production methods and technologies.

Design studios must be completed in one of the following design areas.

Communication design

You must complete

• CDS1001 Communication design studio 1 (12 points)
• CDS1002 Communication design studio 2 (12 points)
• CDS2001 Communication design studio 3 (12 points)
• CDS3001 Communication design studio 4 (12 points)
• CDS3002 Communication design studio 5 (12 points)

Part D. Occupational health and safety study (0 points)

This will introduce you to occupational health, safety and environmental training particularly within the context of studying art, design and architecture.

You must complete:

• OHS1000 Introduction to art and design health and safety

Media communication component

Bachelor of Media Communication is a specialist course, developed through three themes that combine to underpin media communication practice: strategic knowledge, practical and professional skills, and collaboration and leadership.

Part A. Strategic knowledge, Part B. Practical and professional skills and Part C. Collaboration and leadership (96 points)

Part A builds students' competence in analysing and understanding the current state and past developments in media communication locally and globally; understanding impacts of media and communication transformation, and media power; creating future scenarios and media communication visions by developing students' preparedness and adaptability for future media communication change and creativity.

Part B involves developing students' competencies in linking knowledge and media practice in professional contexts, such as conceptual and implementation skills, project and content management skills, hands-on experience in putting knowledge into practice, and thereby testing and creatively experimenting with (strategic) knowledge about media transitions and transformations. It also involves developing students' competency in ethical and legal aspects of media communication.

Part C involves competencies necessary for students to work in teams and in different knowledge communities and media communication professional settings. It includes competence in engaging with stakeholders, media literacy, and participatory research and media making in collaboration with experts from academia, industry, government, and the community. It also includes competency in social and cross-cultural awareness.

You must complete:

Common units (36 points)

Students must complete:

• ATS1206 Media challenges
• ATS1119 Communicating in the digital era
• ATS3216Not offered in 2018 Media communication professional project or ATS3213Not offered in 2018 Media communication professional placement (12 points)

Two media practice labs (12 points) with at least one at level 3 chosen from:

• ATS2186Not offered in 2018 Audio lab
• ATS2187Not offered in 2018 Video lab
• ATS2188Not offered in 2018 Media scriptwriting lab
• ATS3191Not offered in 2018 Media analytics lab
• ATS3192Not offered in 2018 Media entrepreneurship lab
• ATS3193Not offered in 2018 Virtual reality lab

Specialisations

Students complete core and elective units in one of the following specialisations:

• Digital humanities
• Journalism
• Media
• Screen

You may be eligible to exit this double degree course early and graduate with one of the single awards once you have successfully completed a total of a 144 points, including all of the requirements for the relevant single degree component.

• 144 points to exit with a Bachelor of Design
• 144 points to exit with a Bachelor of Media Communication

Honours

You may be eligible to apply for a one-year honours course once you have successfully completed this double degree, or have completed all of the requirements for one of the single degrees including a total of 144 points. The following honours courses apply:

• F3702 Bachelor of Communication Design (Honours)

You are usually eligible to apply for honours if you achieve a distinction grade average (70 percent) or above in 24 points of studies in relevant discipline units at level 3. This sometimes also means you need to have completed specific units.