Course Title: Communication Design Pre Major (Hon)

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Communication Design Pre Major (Hon)

Credit Points: 24


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

GRAP2253

City Campus

Undergraduate

335H Applied Communication

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006

Course Coordinator: Peter West

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 99259557

Course Coordinator Email:peter.west@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 4.05.006


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

It is assumed that students have a highly developed knowledge of communication design, basic design production, the ability to respond to briefs and present concepts and final work to an appropriate aesthetic standard. It is assumed that students are familiar with the creative problem solving techniques utilised in the undergraduate course.


Course Description

This course will develop creative problem solving techniques in a studio environment. Students will learn by practical example. Students can initiate their own projects and/or work on briefs provided by the course coordinator.

This course will develop creative agility, experimentation, exploration, critical analysis and production. A new critical awareness of each stage in this process will help students gain the utmost from each mind set. Furthermore students will be encouraged to collaborate with other disciplines. This course is designed to provide a basic working knowledge of a variety of communications industries so as to provide students with a range of possibilities when solving communication problems. Students will create big ideas, that work.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

At the end of this course you will be able to -
• apply idea generation techniques
• critique creative responses
• apply knowledge of communication industries as a basis for critique
• analyse and apply strategy
• design appropriate solutions
• operate within a studio environment
• define and document goals
• maximise outcomes from each stage of creative problem solving.

Students will exit this course with the ability to implement effective communication design solutions and reflect upon their process. Students will also learn how to initiate their own projects and respond in a meaningful manner.


You will learn how to
• generate ideas
• work in a collaborative studio environment
• respond to industry standard briefs
• reflect upon and adapt these processes.

With this knowledge you will able to meet client, industry and market expectations.


Overview of Learning Activities

Students will learn how to identify and analyise a communication problem.
Students will learn how to utilise creative problem solving techniques and explore numerous possibilities when searching for creative solutions. Students will learn how to work in teams. The learning environment will encourage discussion and cooperation. Students will be given roles within teams to assist with the development of projects and their understanding of methods of collaboration. Students will be expected to research effectively, share and apply their findings.
To assist strategic decision making, additional communication industries will be supported and explored by the course. It is expected that the students will acquire a basic knowledge of surrounding disciplines which will allow them to understand options and manage their application.


Overview of Learning Resources

A range of support materials will be provided throught this course such as -
• notes from related publications
• collections of award winning communication strategies
• industry publications
• websites
• guest lectures and tutors.


Overview of Assessment

Students will be assessed on their ability generate creative, lateral solutions in response to a briefs communication objective. Students will be required to submit completed tasks throughout the semester. The students creative process and end out come (delivery) will be the focus of the assessment. Students will be assessed on their ability to generate numerous creative solutions, critique as a group, make choices and manage the best possible solution through to a effective design outcome. Judgements regarding these criteria will be based upon the projects originality, impact and effectiveness as a solution to the stated communication objective.
The Students developmental work (including research and critique notes) will be examined for evidence of creative experimentation, exploration, originality, involvement in and responses to group critique.