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Bachelor of Design (Communication Design Major)

  • Bachelor

Study communication design and apply graphic design and digital skills to create typographic and visual meaning in graphic and interaction design, branding, illustration, photography, advertising, motion graphics and art direction.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor

About this course

Study communication design and apply graphic design and digital skills to create typographic and visual meaning in graphic and interaction design, branding, illustration, photography, advertising, motion graphics and art direction.

Career pathways

Course structure

As a communication design student, you're supported by lecturers and professional designers, as you work independently and collaboratively on graphic design and communication design projects.

Year 1

In the first semester, you'll study core courses that introduce you to design principles, research methods, critical thinking, creative processes and design prototyping. You'll focus on media experimentation, use type and image to exploit graphic design conventions, and communicate ideas.

In the second semester, you'll explore design systems, industry case studies, information and content management to prototype and communicate messages to an audience.

In Semester 1, you study the following core courses:In Semester 2, you study:

You'll also start your courses from your second major, your minor(s) or elective courses.

Year 2

You'll work on studio projects and workshops where you will:

  • Explore design systems and branding, including marketing channels, campaign strategy and visual identity
  • Engage with core analogue image-making, digital tools and applications, and communication strategies
  • Focus on typography, illustration, drawing, moving image and opportunities to explore image-making and narrative structures
  • Work on projects with social impact, and partner with creative studios, design researchers, designers and other industry stakeholders
  • Apply industry standard lens-based image-making processes and technologies, professional workflow, and market-level management and communication systems
  • Develop a portfolio
You study the following courses:

You'll also continue to take courses from your second major, your minor(s) or elective courses.

Year 3

The focus this year is the major self-directed design project you complete. Projects can be individual, in partnership with another student or undertaken as a group project.

You study the following courses:

You'll also continue to take courses from your second major, your minor(s) or elective courses.

Build your degree

Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.

https://www.aut.ac.nz/courses/te-tohu-paetahi-mo-te-hoahoa-bachelor-of-design/communication-design-major