major

Graphic Design

Major structure

Overview

The graphic design major integrates design theory, digital and analogue approaches, and modern industry practices so you'll be industry-ready. You will complete a design portfolio and learn to critically interpret and integrate historical, social, cultural and stylistic concepts in graphic design.

Your course structure

In your first and second year you will complete subjects on the foundations of design and be introduced to the design studios. You will complete prerequisites for your major as well as other design core, elective and breadth studies.

In your third year, you will complete 50 points (usually four subjects) of study that is deep and specialised study in design studios. You can complete a double major with some study areas in the Bachelor of Design:

Double major options

Breadth studies

Breadth is a unique feature of the Melbourne curriculum. It gives you the chance to explore subjects outside your core studies or your major, developing new perspectives and learning to collaborate with others who have different strengths and interests — just as you will in your future career.

Some of our students use breadth to explore creative interests or topics they have always been curious about. Others used breadth to improve their career prospects by complementing their major with a language, communication skills or business expertise.

Sample course plan

View some sample course plans to help you select subjects that will meet the requirements for this major.

Graphic Design Major
Accordion

Year 1

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Foundations of Design: Representation – major – ARCH10001 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 1 – major – FINA10026 – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Graphic Design Studio 1: Image & Text – major – GDES10001 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 2 – major – FINA10032 – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 2

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Graphic Design Studio 2: Image & Media – major – GDES20001 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 3 – major – FINA20029 – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Colour Studio – major – GDES20002 – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 3

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Branding – major – GDES30002 – 12.5 pts
  • Interactive Media – major – GDES30008 – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Graphic Design Studio 3 – major – GDES30003 – 25 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Graphic Design and User Experience Double Major
Accordion

Year 1

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Foundations of Design: Representation – major – ARCH10001 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 1 – major – FINA10026 – 12.5 pts
  • Media Computation – major – COMP10003 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Graphic Design Studio 1: Image & Text – major – GDES10001 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 2 – major – FINA10032 – 12.5 pts
  • Fundamentals of Interaction Design – major – INFO10003 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 2

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Graphic Design Studio 2: Image & Media – major – GDES20001 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 3 – major – FINA20029 – 12.5 pts
  • User Interface Development – major – INFO20005 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Colour Studio – major – GDES20002 – 12.5 pts
  • Database Systems – major – INFO20003 – 12.5 pts
  • Usability Evaluation Methods – major – INFO20004 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 3

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Branding – major – GDES30002 – 12.5 pts
  • Interactive Media – major – GDES30008 – 12.5 pts
  • Advanced Interface Prototyping – major – INFO30005 – 12.5 pts
  • Game Design – major – INFO30009 – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Graphic Design Studio 3 – major – GDES30003 – 25 pts
  • Interactive Technology Project – major – INFO30008 – 25 pts
Graphic Design and Performance Design Double Major
Accordion

Year 1

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Foundations of Design: Representation – major – ARCH10001 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 1 – major – FINA10026 – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Graphic Design Studio 1: Image & Text – major – GDES10001 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 2 – major – FINA10032 – 12.5 pts
  • Sound in Performance – major – MUSI10223 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 2

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Graphic Design Studio 2: Image & Media – major – GDES20001 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 3 – major – FINA20029 – 12.5 pts
  • Light in Performance – major – FINA20043 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Colour Studio – major – GDES20002 – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • The Figure in Performance – major – FINA20041 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 3

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Branding – major – GDES30002 – 12.5 pts
  • Interactive Media – major – GDES30008 – 12.5 pts
  • Space Studio – major – FINA30022 – 12.5 pts
  • Space in Performance – major – FINA30023 – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Graphic Design Studio 3 – major – GDES30003 – 25 pts
  • Performance Design Studio – major – FINA30024 – 25 pts

Explore this major

Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this major.

Core

Students must complete all of the following subjects

Accordion
Graphic Design Studio 2: Image & Media · 12.5 pts

The focus of this studio subject is the development of both design thinking and dexterity with tools, and an increased awareness of communication strategies and practices, specifically the generation and articulation of design possibilities and artefacts.

Using images, text, animated elements and sound – and drawing on visual cultural histories —students will expand their experience of communicating with image and text across a range of studio workshops, working with diverse design techniques and graphic methods. Workshops will comprise of supervised studio time and independent study.

Materials and Software
Adobe CC is the required software for this subject. Please note that Adobe CC software is available in the labs on campus for all Breadth and Graphic Design students.

View detailed information in the Handbook
Critical and Theoretical Studies 3 · 12.5 pts

This subject deals with the critical formulation of vanguard “high” modernism in the 1960s and its contestation by varieties of late modernist and postmodernist art and culture, which develop throughout subsequent decades up to the millennium.

Students will explore the language and methods for critically describing and interpreting works of art, using examples from the postmodern era. Through study of select works of art, historical, social, cultural and political contexts underpinning artistic production in the postmodern era are introduced.

This subject develops from Critical and Theoretical Studies 1 and 2, examining more advanced modes of critical interpretation in the visual arts. Critical and Theoretical Studies 3 includes an embedded program in academic literacy skills in analysis, discussion, essay writing, research and information retrieval, and is designed to complement accompanying studio-based programs.

View detailed information in the Handbook
Colour Studio · 12.5 pts

This studio subject assists students to develop an understanding of the optical, perceptual and expressive possibilities of the use of colour in the design process. Studio activities encourage sensibility and provide experience in the manipulation and strategic application of colour in design.

Supported by guided feedback, students are inspired to develop considered conceptual approaches to applying colour in their practical work, drawing on a range of colour theories and cultural influences from contemporary art and design history. Studio exercises build skills across a range of mediums including paint, print, collage and digital colour spectrums.

Students will research and create both in the studio and in the computer lab to produce critical, informed designs that respond to and explore colour in creative, commercial, and exhibition contexts.

Materials and SoftwareAdobe CC is required software for this subject. Please note that Adobe CC software is available in the labs on campus for all Breadth and Graphic Design students.

View detailed information in the Handbook
Branding · 12.5 pts

This subject approaches branding through an exploration of the power of images and text as a major part of human to human communication, and as a history of human social interchange. This introductory subject explains and explores the power of branding through lectures and project work focusing on how to create a brand using text and image-centred communication and the patterns of communication across all the available media platforms.

The lectures will look at the history of branding and how brands work strategically and emotionally. The content including logo design, typography, naming and copy text, art direction, visualisation and sound signature applied to print, electronic media and video, will be strategically formed as an effective branding campaign.

In today’s saturated marketplace the challenge is to create a brand that is not only targeted but is also visually seductive. Students will work individually and in groups, learning how to present ideas to a client utilising branding elements to communicate messages in the graphic design context.

Materials and SoftwareAdobe CC is required software for this subject. Please note that Adobe CC software is available in the labs on campus for all Breadth and Graphic Design students.

View detailed information in the Handbook
Interactive Media · 12.5 pts

This subject investigates communication of interactive media. This is achieved through a series of studio-based projects that range from simple website design to complex interactive public installations.

Students will explore wide-ranging possibilities and contexts of contemporary, electronically formed, communication. This practical exploration is supported by classes in coding, talks and readings in historical and contemporary interactive media.

Students will progressively craft an industry-ready folio of graphic designs.

View detailed information in the Handbook
Graphic Design Studio 3 · 25 pts

This subject is the capstone subject for the Graphic Design major in the Bachelor of Design, and will integrate previous coursework in the major. The core of the undergraduate sequence in the major is the development of both design thinking and dexterity with tools.

The focus of the investigations of this subject will be a range of graphic design projects including, book design, exhibition catalogues and web-based communication collateral. Students will be expected to prepare a visually presented portfolio, that reflects examples of relevant professional practice in the design industry.

Materials and SoftwareAdobe CC is required software for this subject. Please note that Adobe CC software is available in the labs on campus for all Breadth and Graphic Design students.

View detailed information in the Handbook