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Course Outline

DES212 Visual Communication and Culture

Course Coordinator:Marni Stuart (mstuart@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2024Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course provides an opportunity to produce design outcomes for a diversity of audiences and contexts. There is an emphasis on research and creative practice where you will develop an understanding of digital culture and contemporary image making to produce impactful and socially engaged design outcomes. You will reflect on local, regional, and global perspectives to work independently and collaboratively on original design projects for simulated industry partners in professional contexts.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled face to face workshops. 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Seminar – Scheduled face to face seminar. 2hrs Week 5 2 times
Online
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled online workshops (Recorded). 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Seminar – Scheduled online serminar (Recorded). 2hrs Week 5 2 times

Course Topics

Visual communication 
Design research 
Typography 
Creative advertising 
Zines and visual culture 
Working with clients 
Industry engagement 
Teamwork and project management 
User centred design in print and digital 
Inclusive design 
The future of print 

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Initiate creative concept solutions and design thinking in the context of a design brief. Creative and critical thinker
2 Implement integrated, original and creative visual solutions in the context of a design brief with a demonstrated understanding of the relevant design principles. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
3 Show awareness of social and cultural identity in the context of design for particular user/audience groups Creative and critical thinker
Ethical
4 Recognise and reflect on local, regional, and global perspectives to work independently and collaboratively on creative practice and research projects with industry partners Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
5 Demonstrate proficiency in the creative and integrated use of several software packages in the production of high-quality printed and digital material. Knowledgeable
Empowered
6 Critically evaluate and utilise problem-solving strategies, creativity, and theoretical frameworks to address a diverse range of design challenges Empowered

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

In week 3, a draft copy of your task 1 will be reviewed in your tutorial.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece Individual 20% 
A3 (both sides), 300 word reflection
 Week 4 Online Submission
All 2 Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece Individual 40% 
8 pages
 Week 12 Online Submission
All 3 Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece Individual 40% 
6 pages or digital equivalent
 Exam Period Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Zine
Goal: 
To develop an original concept and aesthetic for a finished Zine.
Product: Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece
Format: 
You will develop an original Zine for a specific target audience responding to a social, cultural or political theme. You will design and create the Zine for a public exhibition. The 300-word reflection should describe why you have chosen the theme and how you used design principles to engage your audience. Your project must be original and all the elements in the Zine must be your own work.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Initiate creative concept solutions and design thinking in the context of a design brief.
 1
2 
Show awareness of social and cultural identity in the context of design for a particular user/audience.
 3
3 
Proficiency in the creative and integrated use of materials to achieve a successful outcome.
 5 6
All - Assessment Task 2:The Future of Print
Goal: 
Develop an original printed publication in the form of a magazine, catalogue or portfolio
Product: Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece
Format: 
The ability to design for print materials such as magazines, professional publications and exhibition catalogues is an essential skill for a professional designer. However, beyond the obvious concerns with layout/information, a designer also needs to be aware of the role of aesthetic in developing a visual identity for a print publication. This project requires you to research a social and cultural theme and to publish your work in a printed A4 format. Your project must be original and all the elements in the publication must be your own work. As the first step in this project, you will analyse an existing publication and reflect on the future of print.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Initiate creative solutions in the context of a design brief with a demonstrated understanding of relevant design principles.
 1 2
2 
Show awareness of social and cultural identity in the context of design for a particular user/audience.
 3 4
3 
Demonstrate proficiency in the creative and integrated use of several software packages.
 5 6
4 
Originality and creativity in the final project, including professional communication, design and written expression
 1 2 4 6
All - Assessment Task 3:Digital Publication
Goal: 
To design and deliver an original digital publication with interactive elements and an outcome relevant to the design brief for the project
Product: Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece
Format: 
You will design and deliver an original digital publication responding to a concept and theme covered in the workshops. Your project must be original and all the elements in the publication must be your own work. Your digital publication will be presented as an interactive PDF or website and could include, links, video, sound or augmented reality triggers. Digital publications can include QR codes linking to interactive experiences.

Across all our Creative Industries undergraduate programs, we are collecting data for assurance of learning purposes. This task is being used for measurement towards our School's Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation. 

The following Program Competency will be assessed: PC 2 - Critical and creative thinkers and practitioners.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Implement integrated, original and creative solutions in the context of a design brief with a demonstrated understanding of the relevant design principles and interactivity.
 1 2
2 
Show awareness of social and cultural identity in the context of design for a particular user/audience group.
 3 4
3 
Demonstrate proficiency in the creative and integrated use of digital software, including interactivity such as augmented reality.
 5 6
4 
Application of research and critical reflection in the final design outcomes.
 4

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Students are required to provide their finished artefacts printed.

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all field activities and low to moderate levels of health and safety risk exists. Moderate risks may include working in an Australian bush setting, working with people, working outside normal office hours for example. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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