Description
Communication Design at RMIT
This program takes the practice of graphic design and incorporates communication strategies within it. It recognises that the designer must work with more than visual technologies and have a greater diversity of professional skills that will be required of them in the industry.
You will develop a unique visual language based on a thorough knowledge of conceptual and design principles, combined with your individual design aesthetic. You will gain a strong knowledge of the technologies and media for production.
The program prepares you as a designer, to interact with groups of people from various creative backgrounds, who have different methods of identifying and addressing the design problem.
Throughout the program you will develop skills in negotiating a consensus among participants with a range of interests in the design outcome.
You will also learn how a visual strategy can contribute to all phases of the problem-solving process. You can participate in courses from communication courses within the School of Applied Communication and other design disciplines as electives or interdisciplinary projects.
Work Experience
Work placements are offered to selected students in the Honours year (fourth year of the program). These are for a full year within a professional organisation where the student works in a studio environment.
The program has strong industry links and many opportunities exist within the program for students to work with industry professionals.
Duration
Three years full-time
An honours program is available.
Pathways
Graduates of the Diploma of Arts (Graphic Arts) program who have been successful in gaining a place in this program will be eligible to apply for exemptions of up to one year leaving up to an additional two years to complete the degree program.
The School of Applied Communication has the following postgraduate offerings in design and communication: Graduate Diploma in Graphic Design; Master of Design (Graphic Communication); Master of Design by Coursework (online); Master of Design by Research (Communication Design); Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Research, Applied Communication.
Gaining credit for previous study or experience
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and credit transfer are ways that RMIT recognises applicants’ skills and knowledge gained through formal and informal education and training, work experience, and/or life experience (including volunteer work; committee responsibilities; family duties, hobbies).
Further information about gaining credit for previous study or experience
Further information about pathways
Career Prospects
Graduates can expect to work within communication design consultancies, interdisciplinary consultancies, publishing houses, new media/multimedia studios, and advertising agencies.
Professional Recognition
Awards are offered by the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA), Penguin Books, Kit Cosmetics, and MECCA.
Entrance Requirements
Current Year 12 prerequisite units 3 & 4—a study score of at least 25 in English (any).
Non-Year 12 applicants are encouraged to apply and may be required to have relevant employment or evidence of experience and/or ability to meet the demands of the program.
Equity admissions schemes
RMIT understands that people’s backgrounds and circumstances can affect their access to education and training. RMIT’s equity admissions schemes allow applicants to explain the circumstances that have adversely affected their education, and demonstrate their capacity for future academic success.
Further information is available at equity admissions schemes
Click here for further information .
Application Procedures
Semester one
Full-time applicants—VTAC application
Note: All applicants must comply with any extra requirements listed.
VTAC application
Applicants must apply through Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) and are advised to check detailed information on entrance requirements, application procedures and closing dates. Applicants must meet all extra requirements and selection procedures listed through VTAC.
Application closing date: Late September
Further information:
Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC)
40 Park Street, South Melbourne
Tel. 1300 364 133
www.vtac.edu.au
Note: RMIT program codes listed on this page should not be used when applying through VTAC.
Extra Requirements
Selection mode: pre-selection kit. Short-listed applicants: folio and interview.
Selection procedures (Semester 1 2009 VTAC applicants)
Pre-selection kit: Applicants must obtain a Communication Design Pre-selection kit from the web or request at Open Day. Applicants must submit a completed kit by 10 October.
Interview and folio presentation (short-listed applicants only): Details will be provided by mail by mid-November to the applicants required to attend. These applicants must attend in November.
Advisory letters will be sent in early December.
Semester two (midyear intake)
RMIT University has places available for the midyear intake in many TAFE and degree (bachelor and postgraduate) programs. From 1 May check to see if this program offers a midyear intake
Note: Applicants must confirm availability of program offered at midyear prior to applying. All applicants must comply with any extra requirements listed.
RMIT direct application
Applicants must apply directly to RMIT University using an RMIT direct application form.
Application closing date: 31 May
Further Information:
Info Corner (formerly Office for Prospective Students)
330 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Tel. 03 9925 2260
Email: study@rmit.edu.au
www.rmit.edu.au/programs/enquiries
Click here for further information .
Fees
Degree
Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
A CSP is jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government and the student. In 2009, the fees ranged between $4,162 and $8,677 per year for a standard full-time program. The exact cost varies according to each course.
Changes to fee paying undergraduate places in 2009
The Australian Government has announced that it will phase out fee paying domestic undergraduate places from 1 January 2009 in public universities. However, the Government has announced that it will replace fee paying places with up to 11,000 new Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) by 2011. Therefore, expectations are that there will be more HECS (Higher Education Contribution Scheme) places on offer at RMIT University in 2009.
There will be no full-fee places at RMIT University offered through VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre) for new domestic students in undergraduate programs in 2009. There are some exceptions to the Government’s prohibition on new full-fee undergraduate places which will affect a very small number of students.
Further information is available at: www.rmit.edu.au/programs/fees/highered
Or you can go to the Federal Government’s Going To Uni web site www.goingtouni.gov.au or phone the hotline: 1800 020 108.
Scholarships
Record spend on RMIT scholarships
RMIT University will spend more than $60 million on student scholarships over the next five years. RMIT has many scholarships and funding opportunities to offer students.
Further information is available at RMIT Scholarships
Click here for further information .
Additional Expenses
The cost of materials varies from year to year. A first year student can expect to spend between $500 – $1,000 per year and a final year student between $2,000 – $4,000.
Program Structure
In the first three semesters, you are taught in a series of assigned sequential, interrelated projects, which cover a broad spectrum of Communication Design activities. The following three semesters let you participate in a range of design and communication electives that support the continued sequential study in Communication Design.
Software delivery is taught in association with the design process rather than in isolation. On completion of the program it is expected that graduates’ software knowledge will be of industry standard for both print and digital media.
Major areas of study are:
Conceptual thinking
Publication
Typography
Media
Strategic branding
Design process
Communication strategies
Honours year
If you achieve a degree with distinction in the three-year Bachelor program at RMIT or equivalent, you can apply to enter one of the two Honours streams within the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) Honours program. You will be expected to obtain a high level of study to apply and applicants must present a folio at interview for Honours. You are offered two streams.
Stream 1 The Works
The Works operates as a professional design consultancy that offers you the opportunity to gain business acumen in a socially responsible business through working with clients and undertaking a research component.
Stream 2 Meanwhile
Meanwhile offers a combination of studio practice and coursework in communication.
‘All the skill of graphic design enlivened with the strategic understanding of media management; the right message said with maximum form impact. A designer working up graphics for a public relations practitioner is not what we’re describing, it’s collaborative from the onset; a shared strategic knowledge, which informs each stage until production. With this work ethic we have common ownership of the problem and shared skills evident in the solution. What might an understanding of visual strategy bring to the beginning of the problem-solving process, rather than only being employed to produce artwork for the final stage?’
The following program structure(s) are linked to this program.