- This is a fee-for-service course, government funding is not available. Payment plans are available
- Only Australian Citizens and Residents can apply for this course. Limited visa holders can be accepted pending a VEVO check. We are not CRICOS registered and cannot accept Subclass 500 visa holders
Course Overview
Make your dream of a graphic design career a reality with Open Colleges’ Graphic Design Pathway.
The course is designed for those with no experience, but who have a passion for design and want to launch a career as a Graphic Designer.
The CUA50720 Diploma of Graphic Design trains you in all aspects of graphic design, which you will need to step into a role as a Junior Graphic or Digital Designer, Freelance Designer or Content Developer.
Learn how to combine technical, creative and conceptual skills to create designs that meet client requirements and solve a range of visual communication challenges.
It is designed to get you job-ready, so all assessments are created with a real-world focus to get you used to dealing with different types of design briefs and graphic design roles, which you will face when you graduate.
During the course, you will develop a portfolio of work which showcases your skills, ideas, and creativity, as well as your ability to meet client briefs. You can use this portfolio when approaching potential employers and clients.
Who's It For?
This Graphic Design Pathway program is perfect for people who are passionate about design but have no experience in the industry or have not studied in a while.
Combining the Graphic Design Essentials with the CUA50720 Diploma of Graphic Design means that you have a single progressive path to a graphic design career.
If you are an existing worker or have experience in the related industry, please inform our enrolment consultants during your enrolment conversation. You may be eligible to enrol as an existing worker and complete your studies faster. Please note – limitations do apply.
Job Outcomes
Potential career outcomes could include:
- Assistant web/digital designer
- Graphic operator
- Junior graphic designer
- Junior mac operator
- Package designer
What You'll Learn
- Design fundamentals, such as, typography, colour, visual communication and manipulation of graphics and layouts
- How to master drawing and illustration, as well as print and packaging
- How to understand and interpret branding and identity
- How to understand and work with a client design brief
- How to work in digital design
- Creation of multiplatform assessments
Recognition
Study Method
- OnlineOnline delivery - online course content with the exception of assessments and work placement
- BlendedBlended delivery - both online course content and partial face to face requirements
- In-classIn class delivery - predominately face to face course content conducted at a specific location
- VirtualVirtual Delivery - Live and interactive classroom-style learning conducted completely online
Duration and Study Load
The duration for the course is maximum 27 months. As a self-paced online course, the time it will take you to complete is flexible and dependent on ability and time available.
Entry Requirements
Mandatory local entry requirements
Students need to be able to demonstrate and/or provide evidence of their graphic design skills and ability. Students need to be able to:
- Produce multiple examples of graphic design work that respond effectively to different design challenges
- Produce typography that supports the overall design solution
- Use graphic design software
Successful completion of D0121 Graphic Design Essentials will provide you with the knowledge and skills to meet this entry requirement.
If you already have knowledge and skills (from working or prior education) then you may be eligible to enrol directly in CUA50720 Diploma of Graphic Design and you should speak with an Enrolment Consultant about the direct entry requirements.
Recommended local entry requirements
- Are 18 years old (students under 18 will need permission from a parent or guardian to enrol)
- Have language, literacy and numeracy skills that ensure the ability to read and comprehend technical terms design terms, learn complex design task in an online self-paced environment, and communicate effectively through email. These skills are equivalent to those that would be required to successfully complete a qualification at Certificate IV level or higher
- Access to a modern computer with high-speed internet
- Access to Microsoft Office or equivalent
To successfully complete this course, students will require the following basic computing skills on enrolment. This includes:
- Basic skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
- Creating, saving and editing Microsoft Office documents
- Accessing and searching the internet
- Downloading and saving documents from websites
- Uploading documents through websites/Cloud computing
- Understanding of participating in online discussions
- Attach and use peripheral devices such as scanners, digital cameras, media storage (e.g., flash drive for design storage).
- Saving a compressed file (.zip)
- Saving a PDF File and multipage PDF’s
- Connecting digital cameras and downloading and storing images
- Connecting digital video devices and downloading and storing videos
- Compressing image audio and video files
It is also highly desirable that entrants have:
- Familiarity with Internet searches
- Experience with social media platforms
- Basic experience with Adobe Creative Cloud software
It is recommended that a student achieves the following ACSF levels to successfully complete this course and be able to learn effectively in a self-paced online environment:
- Learning,– Level 4
- Reading, writing, oral communication & numeracy – Level 3
If the student is still concerned about whether they have the skills to complete the course, they will be referred to Admissions as part of the enrolment process to complete a formal LLN assessment through BKSB.
If the student does not achieve the recommended ACSF levels, their application will be sent to the Education Manager to determine if Open Colleges has the required level of support services available to support the needs of the student.
In some cases, the student may be referred to an external provider such as their local TAFE to complete additional foundation skills training before being enrolled into the course.
Minimum age
You will need to be at least 18 years old.
Equipment and tools
This course requires you to have access to a specific tools, equipment, and resources.
Software Requirement (This is Mandatory Material)
This course requires the use of design industry software.
You will need access to the Adobe Creative Suite, which can be purchased on subscription through the Adobe Creative Cloud (ACC).
The ACC subscription is not included in the course fee. Student subscriptions are available at a reduced price.
IT Requirements
It is recommended that students have the following hardware and additional software:
Operating System
- Microsoft Windows 7 or higher (Windows 10 recommended)
- Mac OS 10.11 (El Capitan) or higher
Note: (Microsoft Office 365 can only guarantee support on the current release of Mac OS, plus two previous versions. Older versions may work but may have issues)
Processor: 2 GHz or faster, 2-core
Memory: 8GB of RAM or higher z916GB recommended)
Hard Drive Space: 2 GB free disk space
Browser: Chrome is the preferred browser for students
Software
- Acrobat Reader
- Microsoft Office 2017 or later (including MS Office 365). Note: if using an equivalent office software (such as Open Office or Apple Pages etc), ensure that documents can be formatted correctly and exported to common file formats
- Audio recording Software (Voice recorder app, Garageband, or Audacity)
- Video editing software (iMovie, Video Editor app)
- File compression software
Internet Connection
DSL, Cable, or Satellite with at least 2mbps upload speed
Note: it is strongly recommended that you have access to the Internet from home. Expecting to access your course from your work internet or a public network like a library or coffee shop may be impractical due to your average weekly study hours.
Printer/Scanner: Access to printing/scanning devices or facilities may be required for certain course activities
Peripherals
- 1280 x 800 display (1280 x 1024 recommended) with 16-bit colour and 512 MB of V RAM
- Speakers or headset for audio playback
- Microphone for audio recording
- Webcam or equivalent (such as a smartphone with video recording capability)
- External hard drive for back up of 1T or above
E-mail capability
Access to e-mail through an e-mail program or web-based e-mail system (e.g., Gmail, Hotmail, Mail for Android or Mail for iOS apps)
Access to others
Students will need to work with one or two other people to participate in video or audio roleplays. It is the responsibility of the student to find their own suitable role-play participants.
Language, literacy and numeracy
Our free online assessment tool can help give you an idea of the language, literacy and numeracy skills needed to study a VET course. This tool can also help you determine your learning level and help you plan your future studies.
Recognition of Prior Learning
We understand that you may already have many skills and areas of expertise that you have obtained in different ways and these are recognised through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.
Open Colleges has developed an RPL application kit for this course.
The Student Handbook, available in the Key Student Information section of our website, provides more information about our RPL process. Alternatively, you can contact an Enrolment Consultant to discuss your RPL options.
Assessment
- Demonstrations
- Multiple-choice questions
- Portfolio of evidence
- Presentations
- Projects
- Scenario-based questions
- Short-answer questions
- Visual diaries
- Written reports
Subjects
You will complete the Graphic Design Essentials first and then progress to the Diploma of Graphic Design.
Once you are enrolled in this course, you will receive access to the first Module, which contains the first set of units for the course. When you have successfully completed those units, you’ll be given access to the next Module.
Open Colleges may make changes to the course from time to time to reflect changes introduced to the relevant Training Package or other regulatory requirements.
- Research type as visual communication
- Analyse design needs
- Develop ideas for typographic solutions
- Manipulate and integrate type
- Integrate type within the overall design
- Evaluate typographic design solutions
- Analyse design needs
- Develop and refine ideas for graphics
- Manipulate graphic objects
- Finalise technical aspects of graphics work
- Evaluate graphics work
- Research information on colour theory and design processes
- Communicate ideas through the application of colour and design theory
- Evaluate design work
- Select focus for research
- Conduct critical analysis
- Present ideas about visual communication history and theory
- Develop own practice from research
- Evaluate the role of drawing in professional practice
- Support practice through experimentation with drawing and visual representation
- Develop individual approach to use of drawing
About Open Colleges
Open Colleges puts you at the centre of everything we do. As an institution, we measure our success in the success of our students.
We have more than 125 years of experience in distance education, and this has given us the time to perfect the ways we deliver education and training to people across Australia. In the last decade alone, we’ve helped more than 450,000 students reach their potential.
We understand the needs of adult learners. That’s why we created OpenSpace, our world-class online learning platform that gives you complete flexibility and control to study whenever and wherever you are. OpenSpace provides you with access to learning resources, expert trainers and assessors, a superior support network and the opportunity to connect with other learners just like you.
Our nationally recognised courses could help you launch, change or accelerate your career. Now is the time to make your next move. With Open Colleges, everything could happen.
Open Colleges Pty Ltd is a Registered Training Organization (RTO 90796)
