Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)

The Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) is a program offered by the School of Humanities and Communication Arts (SoHCA) at Western Sydney University. This program is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to succeed in the field of visual communication.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the abilities, knowledge, and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit, while preserving the academic integrity of the university's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes. The inherent requirements for the Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) program are clustered under seven domains: ethical behavior, behavioral stability, communication, cognition, sensory abilities, strength and mobility, and sustainable performance.

Ethical Behavior

• Students need to understand and act in ways consistent with the recognized values of society.
• Student demonstrates knowledge of, and engages in ethical behavior in practice.
• Justification of inherent requirement: Compliance with the recognized values of society facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people with whom they engage.
• Adjustments must support the recognized values of society.
• Exemplars: Demonstrate ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behavior.

Behavioral Stability

• Behavioral stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in academic and design practice settings.
• Student demonstrates behavioral stability to work constructively in diverse and changing academic and design practice settings.
• Justification of inherent requirement: Behavioral stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments.
• Adjustments must support stable, effective, and professional behavior in both academic and design practice settings.
• Exemplars: Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback, coping with own emotions and behavior effectively when dealing with individuals or teams in design practice settings.

Communication

This course requires effective, verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills.

Verbal

• Effective verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to enable the successful completion of B Design programs within SoHCA.
• Student demonstrates sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences, the ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately, and in a timely manner.
• Justification of inherent requirement: Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships.
• Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, and clarity issues.
• Exemplars: Participating in client presentations during, or at the end of, a project, participating in regular feedback sessions in the design studio.

Non-verbal

• Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to the successful execution of design practice in both an academic and professional context and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, and non-judgmental.
• Student demonstrates the capacity to recognize, interpret, and respond appropriately to behavioral cues.
• Justification of inherent requirement: The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic and professional relationships.
• Adjustments must enable the recognition, initiation of, or appropriate response to effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Exemplars: Recognizing and responding appropriately to cues in the classroom and design studio environment.

Written

• Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental part of design practice.
• Student demonstrates the capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances.
• Justification of inherent requirement: Responding to written assessment tasks demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the course subject matter.
• Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy, accessibility, and portability to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and design practice settings.
• Exemplars: Constructing an essay to academic standards in English, constructing a client project report or promotional pitch.

Cognition

This course requires knowledge of theory and the skills of cognition and literacy.

Knowledge and Cognitive Skills

• Consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide appropriate and professional design solutions.
• Student demonstrates the capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information, the ability to process information relevant to practice.
• Justification of inherent requirement: Appropriate and effective development and delivery of a design solution is based on comprehensive knowledge that must be sourced, understood, and applied appropriately.
• Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded.
• Exemplars: Ability to conceptualize and use appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items, appropriately applying knowledge of design theory and practice in design solutions.

Literacy (Language)

• Competent literacy skills are essential to develop and deliver professional, appropriate, and effective design solutions.
• Student demonstrates the ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages.
• Justification of inherent requirement: The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey ideas is fundamental to ensure the development of appropriate and effective design solutions.
• Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply, and communicate accurate information.
• Exemplars: Applying knowledge of both theory and practice in the development of an appropriate, effective design solution, accurately acquiring and conveying appropriate information in the context of client or supplier meetings.

Sensory Abilities

Visual

• Adequate visual acuity is required to undertake effective and appropriate design practice.
• Student demonstrates sufficient visual acuity to undertake the required range of tasks.
• Justification of inherent requirement: Sufficient visual acuity is required to demonstrate the required range of skills, through the performance of relevant tasks and assessments.
• Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in design practice.
• Exemplars: Effectively utilizing visual research findings in the development of original design concepts, effectively applying type, color, and the principles of design to visual solutions.

Strength and Mobility

Fine Motor Skills

• Design is a profession that requires manual dexterity and the ability to complete fine motor skills is fundamental in design practice.
• Student demonstrates the ability to use fine motor skills to complete various design tasks.
• Justification of inherent requirement: Sufficient fine motor skills are necessary to complete various design tasks.
• Adjustments should facilitate functional effectiveness, and a capacity to undertake appropriate and effective design practice.
• Exemplars: Utilizing industry-standard computer software and hardware to undertake design practice, employing a range of non-digital materials to undertake design practice.

Sustainable Performance

• Design practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level.
• Student demonstrates a consistent and sustained level of physical and mental energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time.
• Justification of inherent requirement: Sufficient physical and mental resilience is an essential requirement needed to perform tasks in an assigned period to provide effective, safe, and professional advice during industry placement.
• Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period.
• Exemplars: Participating in tutorials, lectures, and studio workshops throughout the day, providing consistent design practice over a negotiated time frame.