Diploma of

Design (Visual Communication)

You’ll learn design principles, typography, layout, branding, digital illustration, motion graphics, and software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects.

Yes. The diploma is designed for aspiring designers with or without prior experience. All foundational skills are taught from the ground up.

The Diploma of Design (Visual Communication) takes 8 months full-time study, with flexible trimester intakes in February, June, and September.

Yes. A portfolio is required for entry into the diploma. Our admissions team can guide you through the portfolio requirements. Applicants should demonstrate an interest in creativity and visual storytelling.

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.

Yes. You’ll complete practical, industry-relevant projects that help you build a professional design portfolio throughout the 8 months.

Yes. Upon completion, you can transition directly into the JMC’s Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication).

Graduates can pursue entry-level roles such as junior graphic designer, digital content creator, motion designer, or marketing assistant in creative teams.

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

JMC combines hands-on learning, small class sizes, industry mentors, and a focus on contemporary visual culture to prepare students for today’s creative industries.

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.

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

JMC will supply you with an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription.

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

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.