CUA60320 Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design

CRICOS Course Code: 106533A

The Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design is suitable for students who have previously completed a Diploma of Graphic Design or have extensive experience in the creative industries. Throughout the next 74 weeks, students will expand on their existing design skills to create more complex projects such as package design, website interface design, digital design and client branding. 

Start Dates

Monthly

Duration

74 Weeks

Study: 50 weeks // Supervised Study: 6 weeks // Holidays: 18 weeks

Delivery Mode

Face-to-Face

15 hrs / week

Distance

5 hrs / week

Potential Career Outcomes

Graphic Designer // User Interface Designer // Freelance Graphic Designer
Location

Campus

Gold Coast

Entry Requirements

Academic Entry Requirement:

Students must provide evidence of successful completion of:

  • Advanced Diploma requires a minimum of Year 12 OR a minimum of a Certificate III level qualification or higher
  • If there is no evidence of the above, the student must sit the Entrepreneur Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Test and achieve a satisfactory result

 

Please note: home country evidence is accepted and must be translated

 

English Entry Requirement:

Students must pass a minimum of one of the following English Requirements:

  • Upper Intermediate Certificate or higher
  • Certificate IV level or higher qualification in Australia
  • IELTS 5.5
  • Entrepreneur Education English Test

 

Please Note: To ensure that the English test score is current, the English test must have been taken either within two years before the application is made or within two years before the grant of the visa.

 

Course Resource Requirements:

The following resources are required to complete this course:

  • Computer Requirements: Students will require continual access to their own laptop computer during class and outside of class to meet distance education requirements
  • Adobe Creative Cloud Suite: must have a subscription to the current version.
  • Computer System Requirements:

Visit https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html

 

Please note: students are required to purchase these items at their own expense

 

Course Entry Requirement:

Option 1: Completion of the following units of competency from the CUA50720 Diploma of Graphic Design

  • CUAIND512 Enhance professional practice using creative arts industry knowledge
  • CUAGRD516 Develop graphic design practice to meet industry needs
  • CUAPPR512 Develop sustainability of own professional practice
  • CUAPPR513 Present a body of own creative work
  • CUAGRD515 Design and manipulate complex layouts
  • BSBCMM411 Make presentations

 

Option 2: Students are required to produce a professional portfolio of graphic design work. The professional portfolio of work must demonstrate the ability to:

  •  produce professional typography that demonstrates application of visual communication history and theory
  • produce graphic designs for two-dimensional and three-dimensional applications
  • create and manipulate graphics and design complex publication layouts
CREDIT TRANSFER

You may be eligible for Credit Transfers if you hold the same unit(s) from another provider. To be eligible; you must present your certified qualification at enrolment stage, together with the completed ‘Course Credit Form’. Once assessed, you will be notified of the outcome. Should your achieved units be equivalent, your CoE/course duration will be reduced according to the amount of time needed to complete the outstanding units.

Course Subjects

01. Advanced Type

CUAGRD603 Extend typographic design expertise

This advanced typography unit covers typography, styles and execution in a variety of environments. Students will work on a major project that is based around environmental, three dimensional typography.

02. Develop the Plan

BSBPMG430 Undertake project work

Learn how to undertake a straightforward project or a section of a larger project in this unit. You will cover developing a project plan, administering and monitoring the project, finalising and reviewing the project to identify lessons learned for application to future projects.

03. Elective Design

CUAPPR616 Extend expertise in a specialised art form to professional level

Gain the skills to extend your own expertise in a specialised art form in order to develop a cohesive body of professional work for the public domain. It involves self-directed research and the independent, highly developed use of specialised materials, processes and techniques.

04. The Business of Design

CUAGRD611 Engage in the business of graphic design

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to adopt a professional, commercial approach to graphic design practice. Over the next 4 weeks, students will be researching, evaluating and completing a professional business plan for their own creative business.

05. Website Design/Design Practice

CUAPPR612 Collaborate in professional creative projects

In this unit you will learn the skills and knowledge required to collaborate with other creative practitioners to establish, realise and evaluate a creative project.

06. Managing Creative Projects

CUAPPR611 Originate a body of independent creative work & CUADES611 Manage design realisation 

Over the course of the next 5 weeks, students will learn how to plan, manage and implement their own creative project from beginning to finished product.
07. Creative Thinking

BSBCRT611 Apply critical thinking for complex problem solving

Understand how to use logical thinking to come up with solutions to problems that occur in the workplace. This unit is for people who need to think objectively in order to come up with organised and creative solutions to complex organisational problems.

08. Illustration Design

CUAILL511 Develop professional illustrations & CUADES512 Establish, negotiate and refine a design brief

Over the next 4 weeks students will learn about commercial illustration and topics surrounding the business of Illustration. Students will then be required to produce illustrations for a national travel company promoting international locations.

09. Digital Design
CUADES511 Implement design solutions & CUAGRD612 Originate graphic designs for complex briefs

Across 4 weeks, students will work on a design project that is focused on digital design practices, using industry Adobe programs to complete the complex task. This assessment will enhance digital proficiency, preparing graduates for industry.

10. Client Branding

CUAGRD617 Develop graphic designs for branding and identity

In a consumer driven world full of visual clutter, as a designer, it is more important than ever to understand how to create a strong and effective visual identity. It is this that will allow a brand to stand out from it’s competitors and communicate with it’s intended audience. In this unit you will learn the fundamentals of branding and develop the skills needed to create a visual identity.

11. Packaging

CUAGRD616 Develop graphic designs for packaging

Within this unit, you will learn how to create graphic designs for packaging by combining creative and technical design expertise with a comprehensive understanding of the particular factors that apply to packaging.

12. Display Design

CUAPPR614 Publicly present a body of own creative work

Learn to present and debate ideas in a work or broader life context using creative techniques in order to provoke response, reaction and critical discussion.

Timetable Information

Timetable

Please note; timetables are subject to change.

Course Terminology

Workshop (Design Foundations)
During this time your mentor will deliver planned training sessions which are aimed to give you introductory graphic design skills. Activities may include presentations and planned activities to learn how to use graphic design tools and software.

 

Workshop (Creative Project Foundations)
Upon completion of the introductory workshops, you will be equipped to commence management real and simulated projects. This scheduled time will focus on individual components of your assigned projects.

 

Collaborate (team meeting)
In collaboration with students studying Project Management, you will complete a series of projects. You will be designing real life artwork and will have access to a project manager to help meet your targets. In this allocated time slot, you will have weekly project meetings with your team to evaluate your project.

 

Collaborate (facilitated learning & project work)
During this facilitated time, you will work collaboratively with your project team, or complete independent research tasks that have been delivered in the workshop sessions. You will practice skills that you have been taught by your mentor.

Distance Education

Canvas (Learner Management System)
Canvas is your online learning portal. Within this platform, you will be able to access your course learning materials, assessment requirements, and marked submissions. You will also be able to communicate with your Mentor within this platform, outside of timetabled hours. The system is user friendly and will help keep you on track throughout your studies.

Academic Calendars