Become a professional designer
Turn your passion into a fulfilling career with a Bachelor of Design With a Major in Communication Design from Swinburne. Taught by practicing designers, this degree prepares you to work in a range of creative industries, such as advertising, branding, merchandising, communications and publication design.
You will develop the practical skills you need to design for web, print and emerging media, and learn how to communicate effectively using the language of design. Throughout your course, you will produce work for real clients and develop a professional portfolio to help you land your dream design job.
Career opportunities
Design Coordinator
Produce design solutions for clients and oversee creative projects from start to finish.
Marketing and Design Executive
Develop and execute marketing strategies and create strong graphic design elements.
Graphic and Digital Designer
Produce creative campaigns using graphic design, web and video advertising content.
Account Manager
Work with clients to create a digital brand strategy and manage their projects and campaigns.
Learning at Swinburne Online
Designed by designers
Created by designers, for designers, the Swinburne Online Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) prepares you for life as a professional working in a highly competitive field. Taught by working designers with years of experience, the course has been specifically designed to give you the skills employers are looking for. You’ll graduate with a highly marketable set of abilities and a professional portfolio that shows them off.
A community of creatives
At Swinburne Online, you will be part of an online community of creative students. Just like in a design studio, you will work alongside your peers on your own projects, collaborate on design briefs, and share ideas. You will form creative partnerships that continue far beyond study, and into your professional life.
A unique learning experience
You shouldn’t have to put everything on hold to study, so we have created a degree that can fit around your life. The flexibility of learning online means that you can continue in your current role while working towards the career you want. Our communication design course replicates the studio experience, with lessons taking place in a live, interactive learning environment. You will develop practical skills through demo videos, group sessions and discussions, and use industry-standard Adobe software to produce work for your portfolio.
Student Work
Throughout your course you’ll create a diverse collection of design work for your professional portfolio. Your portfolio showcases your skills to employers and could help you land your dream job.
What you will learn
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Concepts and Narrative
Explore the fundamentals of design conceptualisation and layout for 2D and 3D projects.
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Packaging Design
Take an integrated approach to branding and visual communication, including packaging.
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Digital Design
Develop design techniques for engaging in the digital environment.
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Visual Design
Explore how language and sign production work with design to communicate a message.
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Brand and Identity
Discover how to utilise different elements of identity to define a brand and speak to a target market.
Support and assistance
Everyone has questions from time to time. That’s why we have a dedicated team of tutors and support staff on-call to help you, seven days a week. So whether you need help with a presentation or have a technical issue, there’s always someone you can talk to.
Course units
- DCO10001 Concepts and Narratives
- DCO10002 Digital Design
- DCO10003 Design Studio: Packaging
- DCO10004 Design Studio: Photography
- DCO10005 Typography
- DCO10007 Visual Communication
- DCO20001 Brand and Identity Design
- DCO20004 Web Design
- DCO20009: Typography for Print and Interactive Publication
- DCO30001 Capstone Project
- DCO30002 Design for Production
- DCO30017 Communication Design Strategy
- DDD10001 20th Century Design
- DDD20004 Contemporary Design Issues
- DDD20015 Interaction Design for Web
- DDD20016 Experience Design and Usability for the Web
- DDD30013 Publication Design
- DDD30019 Web Marketing and Advanced Usability
- DDD30020 Interaction Design for Mobile Devices
- Electives 4 elective units
Entry criteria
Non-Year 12 entry
Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees and degrees). Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply.
Submission of a professional portfolio that sufficiently demonstrates an understanding of the practical and theoretical aspects of visual communication design is required. Please note the technology requirements for this course.
Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit.
Applicants without a formal qualification but with significant and relevant work experience and appropriate English language skills, or a suitable Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) result, will be considered if they can demonstrate that they can undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success. Read our Applying and Enrolling FAQs.
The University may determine selection criteria and restrictions in respect of courses to apply in addition to these entry requirements.
Year 12 entry
Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.
VCE Pre-requisites
- Applicants must meet the associated minimum ATAR score
- Units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL and a study score of at least 20 in either Art, Interactive Digital Media, Media, Product Design and Technology, Studio Arts or Visial Communication.
- A portfolio of work and a certified statement of results will be required.
The full Course Information Set and Whole of Institution Set are available for reference.
