The Graduate Diploma of Design (Communication Design) is a six month full-time (or equivalent part-time*) 50 credit point program. 

The graduate diploma is a coursework program with emphasis on structured skills acquisition, design investigation and applied design projects. It offers advanced knowledge and experience in design practice, design management, creative strategies and relevant technical knowledge. Participants may join the program in either Semester 1 (February intake) or Semester 2 (August intake).

With the approval of the program coordinator, participants may substitute units of study in the program described for units of study offered in other master of design programs of the Faculty of Design or units of study offered by other faculties of the university.

Students are normally required to achieve a credit average at graduate diploma level to progress to the master program. They are required to complete a further 100 credit points to be eligible for the master award.

* Please note that international students are required to study full-time.

Graduate diploma
The graduate diploma is a 50 credit point program consisting of 25 credit points from core units and 25 credit points from elective units. All units of study are 12.5 credit points unless otherwise indicated. Students are normally required to achieve a credit average at graduate diploma level to progress to the master program. A credit average at graduate diploma level and an interview are required for entry into the Design Centre at master level.
 
Semester 1 (February)
Core units
HDG507 Research Studio - User Centred Design
HDG508 User Centred Design Studio

Elective units
HDG518 Information Design
HDCD511 Identity Design
HDCD622 Technology for Print
HDCD522 Type and Publication
HDG617 Technology for the Web

Semester 2  (July/August)
Core units
HDG507 Research Studio - User Centred Design
HDG508 User Centred Design Studio

Elective units

HDG518 Information Design
HDCD511 Identity Design
HDCD622 Technology for Print
HDCD522 Type and Publication
tHDG617 Technology for the Web

Note:  to allow for greater flexibility, all units will be run each teaching period, dependent upon numbers.

This program aims to provide a coherent suite of units for graduate designers in the area of communication design and multimedia design. A number of units are common to both specialisations in recognition that they share related conceptual challenges and questions of visual expression in the quest to develop useful, usable and resonant designs. These include the importance of ‘user experience’, the role of design in humanising information, the aesthetic and conceptual dynamics of effective communication, strategic thinking and aspects of design management, cognitive psychology, social science and design theory and history. Through its range of units the program aims:

• to offer participants the opportunity to (1) specialise in their discipline and (2) to engage in interdisciplinary design activity, involving direct co-operation between design disciplines to explore new kinds of design outcomes and experiences unachievable through any of the individual design disciplines involved, the promotion of teamwork and group-based activity being fundamental to the design philosophy of the faculty
• to provide postgraduate design degrees that allow multiple entry and exit points for participants
• to graduate individuals able to (1) work as leaders in design and related industries through their expertise in corporate product and service development; (2) possess the processes, creative tools and research skills for innovation in design; (3) be willing to investigate and manage change in the nature of design; and (4) demonstrate an advanced understanding of the impact of information and communications technology (ICT) on the practice of design

The program also acknowledges that the principles of human-centred design are fundamental to the future of design practice. The aim of human-centred design is to transcend simple ideas of functionality and styling to emphasise how design works, services and systems are used by real people. Human-centred design draws human factors like perception, cognition, behaviour, physiology, and ergonomics into the design process to ensure design outcomes reflect users’ needs and perspectives. The program focuses on promoting usability through scenario building and iterative processes of applied research, involving user participation in the course of design development. The designer’s ability to effectively communicate design thinking to different audiences through image, text and demonstration is given high priority, as is their ability to evaluate design propositions in terms of human factors and user needs.

Graduates may find work in design consultancies, advertising, publishing, packaging, merchandising, publication, design research and design management.