What is it and why should I do it?
This future-focused course explores the appearance and function of objects, environments, messages, and experiences. Visual Communication Design (VCD) cultivates future-ready designers with a critical and reflective eye, a refined aesthetic sensibility, and the skills, knowledge, and mindset to tackle real-world challenges.
You'll explore how visual language communicates ideas, solves problems, and influences behaviour. Through type and imagery, you'll learn to craft innovative designs tailored to specific audiences and contexts.
VCD is a self-directed folio subject in Unit 3&4 that can lead to many different study and career pathways for students that study it. If you are interested in pathways such as: communication or graphic design, art directing, interface and web design, illustration, advertising, animation or visual effects, industrial design, product design, furniture design, jewellery design, textile design, fashion, architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, interior design, set and event design, exhibition design, game design, concept art, visual merchandise, or interaction and user-experience (UX) design, you should consider VCD as your folio can assist you to gain entry to these tertiary courses.
Below are links to the best VCD work from across the state:
- Top Designs 2025 design solutions and folio pages
- Top Designs 2024 design solutions
- Top Designs 2023 design solutions
How much homework/study will I have?
All Unit 3 and 4 subjects require 3-5 hours of study per week. In VCD your homework will involve completing design and research related activities that are not finished in class. It will also involve a significant amount of school assessed coursework (SAC) and school assessed task work (SAT) related work where you respond to a design brief utilising the structure of the design process. Design analyses and reports are also included in your homework.
What contributes to my study score?
How do I satisfactorily complete the unit?
To gain an S for any VCE subject you need to demonstrate that you have met the unit outcomes. In Visual Communication Design you will meet the unit outcomes through the completion of coursework and assessment tasks.
Unit 3
- Outcome 1: On completion of this unit the student should be able to compare the ways in which visual communication practices are used by contemporary designers, using research methods and practical exploration.
- Outcome 2: On completion of this unit the student should be able to compare and analyse design examples from selected field(s) of design practice, describing how aesthetic considerations contribute to the effective communication of information or ideas.
- Outcome 3: On completion of this unit the student should be able to identify two communication needs for a client, prepare a brief and develop design ideas, while applying the VCD design process and design thinking strategies.
Unit 4
- Outcome 1: On completion of this unit the student should be able to refine and resolve distinct design concepts for each communication need, and devise and deliver a pitch to communicate concepts to an audience or users, evaluating the extent to which these meet the requirements of the brief.
- Outcome 2: On completion of this unit the student should be able to produce a design solution for each communication need defined in the brief, satisfying the specified design criteria.