Visual Communication Design

Watch now: To find out more about this curriculum area, watch ‘Understanding the Victorian Curriculum F–10 Version 2.0, Visual Communication Design Levels 7–10’ on the Resources page.

Rationale and Aims

Rationale

Visual Communication Design is the study of visual language and the role it plays in communicating ideas, solving problems and influencing behaviours. Students learn how to manipulate type and imagery when designing for specific contexts, purposes and audiences. Visual Communication Design addresses the potential of designers in a range of practices focusing largely on the appearance and function of objects, environments, messages and experiences.

Visual communication design practices are central to the diverse and continuing cultures and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Through visual communication design practices, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designers articulate and express connection to and responsibility for Country and Place.

The discipline of Visual Communication Design, therefore, seeks to cultivate future-ready designers who have a critical and reflective eye and a refined aesthetic sensibility, and who are equipped with the skills, knowledge and mindsets necessary to address the problems of life. Through exposure to the cultures and traditions of design practice, students learn how designers visually communicate ideas and information when designing for people, communities and societies. They develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions required of a multidisciplinary designer who is a reflective, responsible and empathetic practitioner equipped with agency and initiative.

Aims

The Visual Communication Design curriculum aims to develop students’:

• ability to work independently and collaboratively to find, reframe and address human-centred design problems and opportunities
• creative design thinking strategies and visual communication design practices
• skills in drawing and making to develop visual communication designs using a range of media, materials and methods
• ability to manipulate the design elements and principles to communicate ideas and information across fields of design practice
• respect for and acknowledgement of the diverse roles, innovations, traditions, histories and cultures of designers; visual communication design as social and cultural practices; and industry
• understanding of design’s influence, and the influences of design in past, present and future contexts, including economic, technological, cultural, environmental and social factors.