Master of Design (Communication Design)

Entry Requirements

Successful completion of a Bachelor degree or Graduate Diploma from a recognised higher education institution, or equivalent, in a related discipline. Applicants must also submit a portfolio of work, curriculum vitae and a written statement of intent.

Applicants who have completed the Graduate Diploma in Design from the University of South Australia are eligible to enter the program with 1.0 EFTSL Advanced Standing and complete the program in 1 year of full time study or equivalent part time study, and are not required to submit a portfolio of work and statement of intent.

Applicants who have completed a Bachelor (Honours) degree in a related discipline are eligible to enter the program with 1.0 EFTSL Advanced Standing and complete the program in 1 year of full time study or equivalent part time study. Applicants must also submit a portfolio of work, curriculum vitae and a written statement of intent.

Related design disciplines include: visual communication design; graphic design; graphic communication; communication design.

English Language Requirements:

IELTS score of 6.5 (with 6.0 in Reading and Writing); TOEFL iBT score of 79 with Reading and Writing not less than 18; TOEFL paper-based test (PBT) score of 577 with TWE of 4.5; Cambridge CAE/CPE score of 177; Pearson's test of English (Academic) (PTE) score of 58 with Reading and Writing communicative scores not less than 50; CELUSA score of AE5.

Course Details

This hands-on postgraduate qualification will equip you with a comprehensive understanding of the innovative, changing world of communication design.

With a strong focus on adaptability and the importance of being able to respond to changing design issues, you will gain advanced skills in areas such as web and print design, as well as emerging technologies and research processes.

In conjunction with industry, you will also be given the opportunity to work on creative projects, developing skills in writing project proposals and presenting information.

In addition to the necessary practical skills, a key part of your learning will relate to advanced research and you will graduate with the cognitive skills needed to review and analyse information.

You may also complete an industry placement as part of an elective.

What you'll learn

To be an effective communication designer you need to be able to identify problems, and to examine and develop strategies and approaches to overcome them. This qualification addresses design issues that you may be faced with in the workplace, such as:

socio-cultural change
economic constraints
environmental impacts

You will also develop an advanced understanding of communication design principles and graduate with the ability to develop and design effective communications for a range of audiences. Cognitive skills needed to review and analyse research will also be developed.

This master degree comprises design research studio classes, academic research skills, introduction to sustainable design, business practice and a choice of electives.

Your career

This industry is expecting strong growth in long-term employment prospects Australia-wide1.

Graduates from this degree enjoy careers in a variety of roles, such as:

animation and motion designer: use graphic software to create animated images
art director: responsible for the visual aspects of a publication, campaign, or other published material; a chief liaison between the client and designers
graphic designer: create visual concepts to inspire, inform or captivate an audience
communications designer: use software applications to create visual design elements for publishers, web developers and multimedia companies
illustrator: produce still drawings for use in advertisements, magazines, on packaging, greeting cards and in newspapers
typographer: create the typeface that graphically reflects a client’s brief
web designer: create and maintain websites, this may include the design, layout and coding

Creativity, patience, motivation, commitment and, of course, excellent communication skills, are all qualities of a successful communication designer.

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