What is it and why should I do it?

Visual Communication Design (VCD) is the study of visual language and the role it plays in communicating ideas, solving problems and influencing behaviours. You will learn how to manipulate type and imagery when designing for specific contexts, purposes and audiences.

VCD addresses the potential of designers in a range of practices focusing largely on the appearance and function of objects, environments, messages and experiences. The discipline of VCD seeks to cultivate future-ready designers who have a critical and reflective eye and a refined aesthetic sensibility, and who are equipped with the skills, knowledge and mindsets necessary to address the problems of life.

What will I do in class?

• Generate design ideas, refine concepts and present solutions
• Document, reflect on and annotate your own visual communication design practice
• Apply the visual communication design process to address communication needs
• Document and evaluate their use of the visual communication design process to present visual communication designs that address specific communication needs, audiences or users and different contexts.

• Analyse and evaluate how and why ideas and information are communicated in visual communication designs and solutions they design or experience.
• Evaluate the way designers across fields of design practice from different cultures, times, places and other contexts communicate ideas and information, including evaluating the practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designers
• Evaluate how designers celebrate and challenge perspectives of Australian identity in visual communications across fields of design practice and in different contexts

• Conduct human-centred research to explore a design problem
• Create a design brief
• Explore
• Document your design process, including conducting human-centred research and 
• Participate in critiques with peers
• Design an environment such as a community centre Design an object such as a piece of furniture to be used within the environment Design branding and/or wayfinding for the environment Design a user experience such as an app or

Students will analyse how and why ideas are communicated through design. They'll explore how designers from different cultures, time periods, and places—including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designers—use design to share ideas. Students will also look at how design challenges or celebrates Australian identity. Students will learn how to choose the right visual tools, methods, and materials to create and refine their design ideas. They'll document their design process, reflecting on and explaining their choices. By applying the design process, they'll create visual solutions for specific audiences or users and evaluate how well their designs meet the communication needs of those audiences.

You will design respond to 

• Desig

You will make design decisions about where your Sustainable House will be located: maybe by the sea, on a cliff top, in the snow, a forest setting or an urban city location. Your chosen location will direct the sustainable design features you will be designing with.

Students will develop an architectural floor plan, side view elevations and perspective drawings for your project. 

Students will also undertake a research investigation on contemporary Australian sustainable architectural practices.

Students will use home time to allow for thinking and pondering of various design considerations for your project. No set home work if students work productively during class time. 

How do I satisfactorily complete this unit?

• Document your design process, including conducting human-centred research and
• Participate in critiques with peers
• Design an environment such as a community centre
• Design an object such as a piece of furniture to be used within the environment
• Design branding and/or way finding for the environment
• Design a user experience such as an app or 

Which VCE subjects does this subject lead to?

This subject leads directly to VCE Visual Communication Design, however, the subject will help develop skills for all VCE Visual Arts and Design and Technologies subjects.

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