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Master of Design (Communication Design)

DMCD30  061608G



Duration

 Campus and Intake Show intake calendar

Fee*
18 Month/s Prahran (Semester 1, Semester 2) A$21,500 (annual for 2011) 
*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

Discontinued: This course has no new intake. This information is provided for continuing students

The last intake of this course will be into Semester 2 (August) 2011. From 2012 this course will be replaced by Master of Design (Communication Design).
 
The new course (DMCD60) includes a more flexible structure and options to study in specialised areas of design. To register your interest in receiving news about the new course please go to: http://www.swinpg.prospectivestudent.info//
 
This nested suite of programs comprising the Graduate Diploma of Design (Communication Design) and Master of Design (Communication Design) provides a program of advanced study for designers wishing to achieve higher specialisation in communication design, preparing them to meet the increasing demands of the design industry.
 
The program offers advanced understanding of how communication design projects, including branding programs and information design, are developed and executed in contemporary design practice. Students gain insight into business strategic planning from the client’s perspective, allowing them to develop an awareness of clients' needs in relation to design services. The program challenges participants to refine design deliverables to an advanced level, and gives guidance in how to present and document design proposals in a creative, professional, and visually effective way.
 
Students can select to complete the master year by coursework or by participating in the faculty's Design Centre, depending on their own experience and circumstances. The outcomes will be the same in terms of quality and rigour and similar content. 
 
The Design Centre offers a program of experiential learning in advanced practice. It is a working design studio that undertakes innovative design research projects. It is the context within which students develop their knowledge and understanding of client liaison, brief-taking, contract reporting, supervision and coordination of suppliers, preparation of written quotations and creative proposals, project and production management and concept presentation to clients and marketing. The Design Centre affords students the opportunity to apply professionally related skills and advanced communication design techniques to the development of complex projects which may be commissioned or self-determined. Masters students in the Design Centre will take on leadership roles within the studio and engage in applied design research.
 
Please note that while most units are offered as evening classes, some units are available only as afternoon classes.

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This program aims to provides a coherent suite of units for graduate designers in the area of communication design and multimedia design. A number of units are common to both specialisations in recognition that they share related conceptual challenges and questions of visual expression in the quest to develop useful, usable and resonant designs. These include the importance of  ‘user experience’, the role of design in humanising information, the aesthetic and conceptual dynamics of effective communication, strategic thinking and aspects of design management, cognitive psychology, social science, and design theory and history.
 
Through its range of units the program aims to:
  • offer participants the opportunity to (1) specialise in their discipline and (2) to engage in interdisciplinary design activity, involving direct co-operation between design disciplines to explore new kinds of design outcomes and experiences unachievable through any of the individual design disciplines involved, the promotion of teamwork and group-based activity being fundamental to the design philosophy of the faculty;
  • provide a postgraduate design degree that allows multiple entry and exit points for participants;
  • graduate individuals who are able to (1) work as leaders in design and related industries through their expertise in corporate product and service development; (2) possess the processes, creative tools and research skills for innovation in design; (3) be willing to investigate and manage change in the nature of design; and (4) demonstrate an advanced understanding of the impact of information and communications technology (ICT) on the practice of design.
The program also acknowledges that the principles of human-centred design are fundamental to the future of design practice. The aim of human-centred design is to transcend simple ideas of functionality and styling to emphasise how design works, services and systems are used by real people. Human-centred design draws human factors like perception, cognition, behaviour, physiology, and ergonomics into the design process to ensure design outcomes reflect users’ needs and perspectives. The program focuses on promoting usability through scenario-building and iterative processes of applied research, involving user participation in the course of design development. The designer’s ability to effectively communicate design thinking to different audiences through image, text and demonstration is given high priority, as is their ability to evaluate design propositions in terms of human factors and user needs.

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The Master of Design (Communication Design) program incorporates a graduate diploma (semester 1) and master year (semesters 2 and 3) and is valued at 150 credit points.  It is a one year full-time (or equivalent part-time*) 100 credit point program.  Design Centre can be undertaken for one or both of the final two semesters of this program and entry is based upon achieving credit average results at the graduate diploma level and an interview. Semesters at Design Centre are 20 weeks in duration. Design Centre consists of one unit of 37.5 credit points and one unit of 12.5 credit points per semester.
 
The master program is available:
1)  as a coursework program with emphasis on structured skills acquisition, design investigation and applied design projects. It offers advanced knowledge and experience in design practice, design management, creative strategies and relevant technical knowledge
2)  through participation in the faculty Design Centre, an alternative mode of study placing emphasis on 'real-world learning' with students engaging with industry and delivering design solutions
 
Participants may join the program in either Semester 1 (February intake) or Semester 2 (August intake).
 
With the approval of the program coordinator, participants may substitute units of study in the program described for units of study offered in other Master of Design programs of the Faculty of Design or units of study offered by other faculties of the university.
 
After successful completion of the graduate diploma (50 credit points) students are required to complete a further 100 credit points to be eligible for the master award. Students are normally required to achieve a credit average at graduate diploma level to progress to the master program. 
 
There are two 12-week semesters a year with a full-time annual study load of 100 credit points.  An optional six-week winter term may include units for postgraduate student.  Please check with the faculty office if you wish to vary your study load in this way.
 
*  Please note that international students on a student visa must study full-time as part of their visa requirements.

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Students may join the program in either Semester 1 (February intake) or Semester 2 (July intake).  All units of study are 12.5 credit points unless otherwise indicated.

Graduate diploma (undertaken prior to the master year)
The graduate diploma is a 50 credit point program consisting of 25 credit points from core units and 25 credit points from elective units. Students are normally required to achieve a credit average at graduate diploma level to progress to the master program. A credit average at graduate diploma level and an interview are required for entry into the Design Centre.

Core units - offered Semester 1 (February intake) and Semester 2 (August intake)

Note: to allow for greater flexibility at graduate diploma level, all units will be run each teaching period dependent upon numbers.
 
 
Master
 
The master program is a 150 credit point program in total consisting of 125 credit points from core units and 25 credit points from elective units. 50 of these credit points are gained by completing the graduate diploma then students complete the master year.

Semester 1 (February intake)
Core units
 
or 
Design Centre
HDG615 Professional Practice 9 - 37.5 credit points
And one of:
or
 
Design Centre
HDG625 Professional Practice 10 - 37.5 credit points
And one of:
or

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Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies while on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Education Abroad website.

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Graduates may find work in design consultancies, advertising, publishing, packaging, merchandising, publication, design research and design management.

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Upon completion of this qualification students may be eligible to become a member of the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA), an Associate Member of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) and the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA) but should confirm eligibility with the association.

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Apply for this course by following the step-by-step process on our How to Apply page.

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Swinburne College English for Academic Purposes Advanced level certificate at the postgraduate level (EAP 5: PG-70%); OR, obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; OR, a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 575 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Computer-based) minimum score of 232 (with Written Writing score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 90 with no band less than 22.

Refer to the English Language Requirements website for further information.

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Academic requirements:

  • A degree in design or a design-related area from a recognised tertiary institution PLUS portfolio submission, or
  • A diploma in design or a design-related area from a recognised tertiary institution PLUS at least two years professional design experience PLUS portfolio submission, or
  • Substantial professional design experience (normally five years or more) PLUS portfolio submission.

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All applicants must submit a portfolio of design work which demonstrates their level of ability and/or achievement in their chosen postgraduate discipline specialisation. In addition to other purposes (see portfolio guidelines) it is important that the applicant's portfolio clearly shows their working knowledge of the types of software programs used in the chosen postgraduate discipline. An interview may also be required for entry into Design Centre.

Download portfolio guidelines here 

Applicants for the Masters program may be eligible for exemptions at the Graduate Diploma level on review of their academic qualifications, professional experience, and portfolio submission if they also have:
  • a four-year bachelor of design degree (i.e. Honours) in the same discipline as their chosen postgraduate area and with at least Credit results, and/or
  • substantial and direct professional design experience (normally five years or more).

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A recognised bachelor degree in design or a design-related area or a diploma plus industry experience, and the submission of a portfolio.

Applicants with a four-year bachelor of design degree in communication design or with significant industry experience may be given exemption for the first year of the program on review of their qualifications, experience and portfolio.

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Enquire online: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/international/enquiry

Email: international@swinburne.edu.au

Phone:
+613 8676 7002 (outside Australia)
Freecall 1800 897 973 (within Australia)

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Visit our Meet Us page to see when we are visiting your home country (or here in Australia)

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A range of scholarships are available to international students, visit our Scholarship Page for details.

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