VCE Visual Communication Design
What do I learn in VCE Visual Communication Design?
VCE Visual Communication Design focuses on making you a better, more creative designer. Through a range of practical and theoretical activities you will:
How is the course structured?
Visual Communication Design is structured into Units 1 - 4. Units 1 and 2 each have three areas of study that look at skills and techniques that prepare you for Units 3 and 4. Unit 3 reinforces and refines the skills learnt previously and Unit 4 involves a student directed and driven folio to design your own visual communications against a client brief.
Unit 1: Introduction to Visual Communication Design
Area of Study 1: Drawing as a Means of Communication
This area introduces various drawing methods as a means of communication. Students use observational, visualisation and presentation drawing methods to communicate design ideas and concepts. This area of study introduces the Design Process stages of generating ideas, developing concepts and refining drawings. This skill set underpins the learning for most outcomes throughout VCD.
Area of Study 2: Design Elements and Principles
This area develops your skills in the understanding and application of the fundamentals of design; The Design Elements and Principles. You experiment with these using freehand drawing and digital methods; such as photography and Adobe programs to achieve desired visual effects.
Area of Study 3: Design in Context
This area teaches you that design and architecture are reflective of the society, culture and historical events of the time they were designed in. You learn to analyse visual communications from various design movements and apply your knowledge of design movement characteristics to re-design various communications.
Unit 2: Applications of Visual Communication Design
Area of Study 1: Technical Drawing in Context
This area of study focuses on the technical drawing knowledge and skills that are associated with a specific design field; Environmental Design or Industrial Design. Within environmental design, students can focus on a specific area such as architectural, interior or landscape design. Within industrial design, students can focus on a specific area such as appliances/homewares, packaging, tools and transport.
Area of Study 2: Type and Imagery
Students develop knowledge and skills in manipulating type and images when communicating ideas and concepts. You learn to select and manipulate type to evoke different moods and emotions, and use a range of manual and digital methods when creating and manipulating images.
Area of Study 3: Applying the Design Process
This area of study focuses on applying the specific stages of the Design Process and is a mini folio in preparation for Yr. 12 VCD. In response to a given design brief, you engage in research, idea generation, development and analysis to support your interpretation of the brief in designing a visual communication. You are able to experiment with a range of manual and/or digital methods, media and materials in your folio.
Unit 3: Design Thinking and Practice
Area of Study 1: Analysis and Practice in Context
In this area, you analyse a range of existing visual communications in each design field. You look at the design elements and principles, methods, media and materials that are used to achieve particular purposes for target audiences. Drawing on your analysis findings, you create your own visual communications of different purposes, audiences and contexts.
Area of Study 2: Design Industry Practice
This area of study focuses on the investigation of how the design process is applied in the industry to create visual communications. Through case studies, you develop an understanding of the processes and practices used in the collaboration between clients, designers and specialists when design and producing visual communications in the three design fields; Environmental, Communication and Industrial.
Area of Study 3: Developing a Brief and Generating Ideas
This area of study is the beginning of the SAT, where you gain a detailed understanding of the first three stages of the design process; 'development of a brief', 'research' and the 'generation of ideas' in order to design two related, but separate visual communications. You develop an understanding of the brief and the critical role that it plays in directing and evaluating your design process. You complete broad and creative research to inspire and gather ideas for your design work and learn to use various idea generation techniques.
Unit 4: Design Development and Presentation
Area of Study 1: Development of Design Concepts
This area focuses on the design process stages of the 'development of concepts' and 'refinement'. Each visual communication need that was outlined in the design brief, is developed through an exploration of design elements and principles, methods, media and materials that are appropriate to the selected design field. In refinement, you learn to use design thinking techniques and the use of 'mock-ups' to test and evaluate the suitability of each design concept and further refine in preparation for the final presentation.
Area of Study 2: Final Presentations
This area focuses on the final stage of the design process; 'resolution of presentations'. You are to produce two final visual communication presentations that are clearly different in intent and presentation format by exploring ways of presenting your final presentations that attract and engage the audience.
Area of Study 3: Evaluation and Explanation
In this area, you are to devise a 'pitch' to present and explain your two visual communications. The pitch is informed by an evaluation of how the final visual communications meet the requirements of the design brief and the design decisions made throughout the design process to fulfil that brief. The pitch can be presented as an oral presentation or video, with supporting images from the folios.
FAQ:
Q. I'm not sure if I am good enough to do VCE Visual Communication Design.
A. Usually, it is recommended that you have done at least one elective of VCD or Architecture Design at Yr.10 in order to have a basic understanding of the skills and techniques used. If you're not sure if you are 'good' enough, speak to Ms Seymour, who would be very happy to give you more info, or look at some samples of your own work and give you some feedback.
Q. What assessment methods are used in VCD?
A. The major assessment method is through a visual diary process, exploring and developing your design ideas. We also assess through written essays, extended responses questions, technical drawings and practice exam papers.
Q. I've only taken one elective of either VCD or Architecture Design, will this disadvantage me in VCE?
A. It doesn't matter whether you have only taken one stream of electives. The curriculum in Unit 1 is an introduction to the knowledge, skills and techniques that you will need for the rest of VCE. Depending on what electives you have previously taken, you will need to work a bit harder in the areas that you are not familiar with.
Q. I haven't taken electives in VCD since Year 8. Can I still do VCE Visual Communication Design?
A. Yes, but keep in mind you will be studying with students who have more experience in VCD than you do. You will just need to work a bit harder, and you will have some holiday homework to do to prepare you for the start of 2016.
Any other questions?
Email Ms Low
VCE Visual Communication Design focuses on making you a better, more creative designer. Through a range of practical and theoretical activities you will:
- Learn and apply appropriate technical drawing methods for the three fields of design: Communication, Industrial and Environmental
- Learn and apply the Design Elements and Principles for desired visual effects
- Trial various media, methods and materials to explore different visual outcomes
- Learn to use industry recognised software such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop
- Develop in-depth knowledge of Design Movements and understand how design and architecture are reflective of the society, culture and historical context that it was designed in
- Learn how to analyse visual communications and understand how designers communicate a message to a target audience
- Research and analyse the work of various design specialists to understand real industry practice
- Design your own visual communications using the Design Process to evolve and document your design ideas
How is the course structured?
Visual Communication Design is structured into Units 1 - 4. Units 1 and 2 each have three areas of study that look at skills and techniques that prepare you for Units 3 and 4. Unit 3 reinforces and refines the skills learnt previously and Unit 4 involves a student directed and driven folio to design your own visual communications against a client brief.
Unit 1: Introduction to Visual Communication Design
Area of Study 1: Drawing as a Means of Communication
This area introduces various drawing methods as a means of communication. Students use observational, visualisation and presentation drawing methods to communicate design ideas and concepts. This area of study introduces the Design Process stages of generating ideas, developing concepts and refining drawings. This skill set underpins the learning for most outcomes throughout VCD.
Area of Study 2: Design Elements and Principles
This area develops your skills in the understanding and application of the fundamentals of design; The Design Elements and Principles. You experiment with these using freehand drawing and digital methods; such as photography and Adobe programs to achieve desired visual effects.
Area of Study 3: Design in Context
This area teaches you that design and architecture are reflective of the society, culture and historical events of the time they were designed in. You learn to analyse visual communications from various design movements and apply your knowledge of design movement characteristics to re-design various communications.
Unit 2: Applications of Visual Communication Design
Area of Study 1: Technical Drawing in Context
This area of study focuses on the technical drawing knowledge and skills that are associated with a specific design field; Environmental Design or Industrial Design. Within environmental design, students can focus on a specific area such as architectural, interior or landscape design. Within industrial design, students can focus on a specific area such as appliances/homewares, packaging, tools and transport.
Area of Study 2: Type and Imagery
Students develop knowledge and skills in manipulating type and images when communicating ideas and concepts. You learn to select and manipulate type to evoke different moods and emotions, and use a range of manual and digital methods when creating and manipulating images.
Area of Study 3: Applying the Design Process
This area of study focuses on applying the specific stages of the Design Process and is a mini folio in preparation for Yr. 12 VCD. In response to a given design brief, you engage in research, idea generation, development and analysis to support your interpretation of the brief in designing a visual communication. You are able to experiment with a range of manual and/or digital methods, media and materials in your folio.
Unit 3: Design Thinking and Practice
Area of Study 1: Analysis and Practice in Context
In this area, you analyse a range of existing visual communications in each design field. You look at the design elements and principles, methods, media and materials that are used to achieve particular purposes for target audiences. Drawing on your analysis findings, you create your own visual communications of different purposes, audiences and contexts.
Area of Study 2: Design Industry Practice
This area of study focuses on the investigation of how the design process is applied in the industry to create visual communications. Through case studies, you develop an understanding of the processes and practices used in the collaboration between clients, designers and specialists when design and producing visual communications in the three design fields; Environmental, Communication and Industrial.
Area of Study 3: Developing a Brief and Generating Ideas
This area of study is the beginning of the SAT, where you gain a detailed understanding of the first three stages of the design process; 'development of a brief', 'research' and the 'generation of ideas' in order to design two related, but separate visual communications. You develop an understanding of the brief and the critical role that it plays in directing and evaluating your design process. You complete broad and creative research to inspire and gather ideas for your design work and learn to use various idea generation techniques.
Unit 4: Design Development and Presentation
Area of Study 1: Development of Design Concepts
This area focuses on the design process stages of the 'development of concepts' and 'refinement'. Each visual communication need that was outlined in the design brief, is developed through an exploration of design elements and principles, methods, media and materials that are appropriate to the selected design field. In refinement, you learn to use design thinking techniques and the use of 'mock-ups' to test and evaluate the suitability of each design concept and further refine in preparation for the final presentation.
Area of Study 2: Final Presentations
This area focuses on the final stage of the design process; 'resolution of presentations'. You are to produce two final visual communication presentations that are clearly different in intent and presentation format by exploring ways of presenting your final presentations that attract and engage the audience.
Area of Study 3: Evaluation and Explanation
In this area, you are to devise a 'pitch' to present and explain your two visual communications. The pitch is informed by an evaluation of how the final visual communications meet the requirements of the design brief and the design decisions made throughout the design process to fulfil that brief. The pitch can be presented as an oral presentation or video, with supporting images from the folios.
FAQ:
Q. I'm not sure if I am good enough to do VCE Visual Communication Design.
A. Usually, it is recommended that you have done at least one elective of VCD or Architecture Design at Yr.10 in order to have a basic understanding of the skills and techniques used. If you're not sure if you are 'good' enough, speak to Ms Seymour, who would be very happy to give you more info, or look at some samples of your own work and give you some feedback.
Q. What assessment methods are used in VCD?
A. The major assessment method is through a visual diary process, exploring and developing your design ideas. We also assess through written essays, extended responses questions, technical drawings and practice exam papers.
Q. I've only taken one elective of either VCD or Architecture Design, will this disadvantage me in VCE?
A. It doesn't matter whether you have only taken one stream of electives. The curriculum in Unit 1 is an introduction to the knowledge, skills and techniques that you will need for the rest of VCE. Depending on what electives you have previously taken, you will need to work a bit harder in the areas that you are not familiar with.
Q. I haven't taken electives in VCD since Year 8. Can I still do VCE Visual Communication Design?
A. Yes, but keep in mind you will be studying with students who have more experience in VCD than you do. You will just need to work a bit harder, and you will have some holiday homework to do to prepare you for the start of 2016.
Any other questions?
Email Ms Low