Bachelor of

Design (Visual Communication)

In the context of Human Centred Design, User Research is a methodical study of the impact design can have on the target user, in terms of human behaviour and quality of life. Experience designers work across products, journeys, services, events, and environments to deliver seamless user experiences. In this unit, students will deploy various methods and principles to expose problems and find design opportunities that can be used as crucial information and insights in their design process. Students are required to develop a research plan to converge their scope, and apply their understanding of different data collection strategies and methodologies.

Correspondingly, students will review and analyse concepts related to user experience, including time, context, triggers, and touch points. Students will explore user experiences from a visual communication perspective; employing data collection methods to create visual artefacts such as empathy maps, user stories and journey maps.

Designing for the third dimension offers greater opportunities to build on knowledge and skill constructed through a classic two-dimensional design practice. Creating for the third dimension augments the designer’s toolkit allowing for entry into creative industries such as object or product design, special effects, information and data visualisation, game design and 3D printing.

3D Design is a subject that focuses on the creative potential of the third dimension for design students that are used to working in classic 2D design areas. The 3D space in this subject is utilised to create and visualise ideas and concepts and produce a series of 3-dimensional assets and a final, more extensive project that will use 3D space to communicate the objectives of the current working brief. The addition of time and motion adds an additional dimension allowing graphics to become 4D.

3D Design provides students with practical experience in the standard creative development processes unique to creating work in 3D spaces. The unit expands design literacy in current real-world practices that is directly applicable to the creative marketplace

In Production Studio II students develop and execute a small group project utilizing the key skills they are focusing on in their streams, or alternatively, act as a crew-member on a project being undertaken by more senior students in Production Studio III and IV. Individuals and teams are required to log required hours in the lab environment, and to meet weekly with an assigned project supervisor who will act as a mentor and support person. A range of creative briefs will be provided for those originating their own project, covering potential projects in areas such as art and design, modelling, animation, game development, or hybrids of these. In addition to the creative work, students will be guided through planning, documenting, reporting, and reflecting on their work. Additional workshops may be provided where required to extend technical knowledge. Finished projects will form the basis of a portfolio to be built upon in successive trimesters. 

Prerequisite: DVC315 (Experiential Design)

This is a work-integrated learning subject where students participate in a work placement relevant to their design field for a specified amount of time. Within the experience, students work on industry projects from brief to implementation and get the chance to interact with clients and develop interpersonal and communication skills needed in this industry. The internship relies on the application of knowledge and skills you have gained throughout your Bachelor Course in a ‘real-world’ situation. When you are enrolled in the subject, you will meet with your project supervisor regularly while working in industry. Upon completion of the subject, it is expected that you will have enhanced your skills in pitching, project management and dealing with clients, as part of your individual professional development.

Context

At JMC Academy, students undertake a rigorous academic program of practice-based learning, into which is embedded a range of work-integrated learning activities. To complement their on-campus learning, students are also encouraged to generate their own creative work. This unit of study has been designed to formally recognise that work. Students will have access to an e-portfolio as a presentation mode for the assessable items. The unit is placed during the final study periods of the bachelor’s degree, enabling students to collect and display their best and most recent examples of their engagement with their discipline outside of their formal study.

How it works 

Students are introduced to this unit during Trimester 1 and then again in successive study periods. Students must be invited by their Head of Department to enrol in this unit; a student will only be enrolled in this unit if the Head of Department is confident that the student can meet all learning outcomes. The e-portfolio JMC students will be given access to an e-portfolio platform at no cost as part of the Microsoft365 subscription. The platform provides students with a place to curate and display their extra-curricular activities for assessment in this unit. It is not the professional portfolio students could use COL401 Internship aims to provide students with an internship opportunity that has sound educational value and provides students the chance to initiate and/or develop relationships with professionals in their discipline. COL401 allows students to prepare or consolidate their know-how to work as a professional and increase their technical and creative skills base. It also allows students to explore potential areas of employment.

You’ll gain skills in design thinking, branding, user experience (UX), motion graphics, typography, layout, digital illustration, and the Adobe Creative Suite.

The course takes 2 years full-time although there is a part time option available, with intakes available in February, June, and September.

The course is highly practical, with a strong emphasis on project-based learning, creative experimentation, and portfolio development. You’ll be working in a simulated studio environment that reflects how you’ll work in the industry, working on real briefs in collaboration with students across JMC’s creative courses.

Yes. Students who complete the Diploma of Design (Visual Communication) can transition directly into the bachelor’s program.

Graduates can work as graphic designers, motion designers, art directors, brand strategists, digital content creators, or UX/UI designers.

Yes, a portfolio is required for entry. You can speak to the admissions team about the portfolio requirements for this course.

At application, we are most keen to learn about your passion and reasons for wanting to study design. In addition to that, we ask that you answer the following two questions prior to coming in for the interview:

1. Show us your best piece of work

What’s something you’ve created that you’re really proud of? It can be any of the following:

• An image (a photography piece, an illustration or a painting)
• A project (an idea, a story, a film critique, a blog, etc…)
• A product (a website, an animation, a poster, presentation, etc…)

Write a small paragraph explaining your choices and rationale behind it. Show us your rigor and initiative. Give us an insight into your creative approach, your creativity and the resulting output.

2. Tell us your thoughts

• Choose a brand that you like and think is successful; write a short paragraph reflecting on why you like it and the reasons behind its success.
• Choose a brand that you dislike or has not been doing well; write a short paragraph reflecting on what the issues are and how they might improve.

Show us the way you see the world around you, your standard of what makes a design good or bad and insight into your thought process.

JMC offers small class sizes, hands-on industry projects, experienced mentors, and a focus on real-world creative briefs and emerging design trends.

Yes. Throughout the course, you’ll build a diverse, industry-ready portfolio showcasing your design, branding, motion, and digital work.

The degree is available at JMC Academy campuses in Sydney and Melbourne.

JMC will supply you with an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription.

No. We equip you with digital tools that allow you to create high-functioning prototypes without coding. 

This course is very hands on and you will tackle real world creative projects. However, having a foundational understanding of design theory is still vitally important. There is approximately a 25% (theory) to 75% (practice) balance.

No. We assess your work as would happen in the workplace via proposal documents and reports, presentations and demonstrations.

As with any design you will need to communicate ideas via drawing and sketching. We believe anyone can learn how to think visually, and we teach sketching techniques right from the beginning. So, if you are open to making marks and learning how to do it well, that’s all you need to start! Learn more about what design means from alumni Serena Kassam

We are committed to strengthening our Design Industry connections by fostering both internships and industry based projects. You will also be mentored by industry practitioners on some of the projects throughout your course of study. In addition, we have industry guests come and talk on a range of topics in each trimester, so you get to build your network even before you graduate.

Yes. The JMC Academy is registered and regulated by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) which is Australia’s independent national regulator of the higher education sector, both public and private.

No, our courses are hands on and practical. Students are required to attend classes to receive ongoing mentorship, learn new skills and work with the equipment provided. We do encourage our students to use online study resources, however our courses would not be as immersive as they are without the practical component.

JMC Academy is broadly recognised and accredited:

• Registered Higher Education Provider.
• Accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
• Registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
• Regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
• Member of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA).
• Nationally recognised within the Australian Qualifications Framework.

Our strong industry links also ensure that JMC Academy qualifications are recognised within the creative industries.