Subjects

Who is it for?

Visual Communication Design is for students who love drawing and designing. This subject is for innovative students who want to learn how to communicate their ideas effectively. This subject is both creative and organised, so if you are one or both of those you are suited to this class.

As designers, we have to do what our client asks and follow the rules of technical drawing, so if you are someone who loves art, but finds a blank canvas daunting, this is the subject for you!

What do you do?

This subject is folio based. We begin with learning the rules of technical drawing following the Australian Standards conventions. We learn multiple drawing methods; technical, observational and visualisation. We learn to draw our concepts, apply design thinking and attempt to problem solve and find solutions to design problems.

We then explore the design elements and principles and how to apply them to create effective visual communication. Unit 2 builds on the same skills of Unit 1, with a sustainability theme and focus. Lastly, we examine past and present designers and the influence of their practise on contemporary design.

What skills do you need?

You should have manual and digital skills appropriate for this level of study;

• We do observational (realistic), technical and visualisation drawing styles. If you have strengths in some of these drawing methods but not others be prepared to learn.
• Some prior level of digital skills. You will need enough digital skills to upload your work to VSV online. Digital rendering skills would be beneficial or an openness to developing these.
• You will analyse and reflect on your work and the work of other designers, you will need some writing skills for this.

What skills do you develop?

The study will provide you with the opportunity to strengthen your ability to communicate visually using by exploring a range of different drawing methods as well as diverse manual and digital media. Over the year, the learning focus shifts from building on skills towards design thinking and the design process, tackling design problems and trialling your own design concepts.

You will also develop your ability to work independently and purposefully on the set tasks, and improve your communication skills. You will begin to develop the skills of a designer.

Requirements

You need access to a scanner (or high-quality camera), computer, internet, software and hardware. You will also need a range of technical drawing equipment, drawing media, materials and presentation folios such as:

• Ruler
• Set squares [30° /60° & 45°]
• T-square & drawing board or drafting board
• Protractor
• Compass (preferably with pencil and pen attachment)
• Lead pencils (hard series 9H – 2H, and/or mechanical pencils)
• Fineliner pens (at least two different thickness: 0.25mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm)
• Colour rendering materials: coloured pencils and / or set of water-based markers or selection of individual colours
• Vinyl eraser
• A3 cartridge paper or sketchbook
• A3 bleedproof and/or fineliner paper
• A3 plastic slip folder (presentation folder)
• Optional templates (circles, ellipse, curves) to assist your curve drawing in technical drawing

Things to think about

Visual Communication Design can be quite costly. It is important to consider how you might obtain access to the practical equipment and materials for technical drawing, and computer programs.

You are responsible for uploading your work using the online submission tools and posting all folios to VSV.

Things you can do now

The best way to prepare for the study is to buy and/or organise the practical technical drawing equipment, materials and media. This also includes at least an A3 size scanner, printer, unlimited internet access and design programs for drawing and rendering.

Refer to the VCAA website for information on this subject:

Read through Technical Drawing Specifications Resource