Diversity and Representation of Graphic Design

This unit seeks to enhance students understanding of key issues in contemporary graphic design and their relation to
social, economic and political contexts. Through this unit students will enhance their research and writing
methodologies for implementation to a series of typographic design projects. They will explore the generation and
design of content through a series of typographic design projects suitable for the publication of documents at an
advanced level.

 

At the completion of this unit students should be able to:
1. Investigate and analyse design and media issues in relation to social, economic and political contexts using primary
sources;
2. Articulate a range of contemporary issues related to design and media practice;
3. Use a body of relevant critical theory in the form of an argument and apply it to a designed communication;
4. Develop a cohesive argument about a design issue (visual or written) that articulates a point of view, suitable for a
published document;
5. Participate in online discussions addressing design issues.
6. Document research for the design development of typographic argument;
7. Apply formal aspects of page and document design within publication design contexts;
8. Plan and apply software-based style sheets and multiple master pages;
9. Utilise typographic conventions consistently at an advanced level;
10. Demonstrate attention to detail within a complex publication design context.

 

This unit will be taught at the Wantirna campus.

90 hours of structured learning, including lectures, tutorials and assessments. In addition, the units require
approximately 90 hours of self-study, projects, assignments and skills development.

Investigation Project                                                                           Group                  30%
Publication Design Project with staged assessments               Individual            60%
Presentation                                                                                         Individual           10%

Students will receive feedback on their progress in attaining the following key generic skills:
• teamwork skills,
• analysis skills,
• problem solving skills,
• communications skills,
• ability to tackle unfamiliar problems, and
• ability to work independently.

The unit will explore a wide range of thematic areas that may include discussions on topics such as:
• The role of design, new technologies and new materials in 21st century;
• Key contemporary practitioners and aesthetics in the 21st century;
• Design philosophies;
• Design for environmental, global and social sustainability;
• Legibility, readability and editing conventions;
• Grids, proportions, page and document structure;
• Style sheets and master pages;
• Multi-sectioned publications.