EXPLORE CAPTURE CONNECT

Diploma of Graphic Design CUA50715 EXPLORE CAPTURE CONNECT COURSE GUIDE of art and design

2 of art and design What you need to know about this course Find inspiration. Look deeper. The purpose of this course is to develop the skills, knowledge and attributes that reflect the changes in media, visual communication and its increasing interactivity and social presence, within the role of a Graphic Designer. It will combine the technical, creative and conceptual skills required to respond to design projects and to present a range of visual and communication design solutions. You will learn how to co-generate an idea with your client. This course will allow you to explore your curiosity and focus on the importance of creating and gathering your own projects. The diversity of skills required from a Graphic Designer is reflected in the selection of electives that cover creative skills, articulation of ideas, communication design, digital media and photo imaging. Analysing specific markets is important in understanding the audience which informs a designer s choice in communication methods. The unit on sustainability addresses the growing need for social, environmental and economic considerations for today s design challenges. North Coast TAFE and Open Colleges In a first of its kind innovation, Open Colleges has now proudly partnered with one of the largest training providers in Australia, North Coast TAFE. Part of the TAFE NSW network, North Coast TAFE provides thousands of students with government accredited and nationally recognised training programs every year. Open Colleges students can now gain TAFE qualifications delivered via our innovative virtual campus OpenSpace, giving you the benefit of accessing a secure, interactive learning environment which supports you in all elements of your study. Combine nationally recognised TAFE credentials with all the flexibility and accessibility of learning through Open Colleges and study anytime, anywhere in Australia. This course will introduce and develop the emerging challenges for Graphic Designers as this role moves towards more complex and inventive ways to communicate through stories, dialogues and sensory experiences.

3 of art and design How it Works Your goal is to elevate your current creative work to the next level. When you complete this course you will have a portfolio, which you can use to present your work to future employers or clients. You ll learn how to produce multiple examples of graphic design work that respond effectively to different design challenges and how to engage with the design process by developing design solutions through research, reflection and the generation and refinement of ideas. About the Industry Graphic Designers may specialise in a number of fields including brand and identity strategy; digital and web-based design; television, film and computer graphics; set and exhibition design; corporate design; book and magazine design; and advertising and illustration. They may progress to positions as design directors, art directors or creative directors. Graphic design today is more about communication design so designers need to be flexible and have a broad range of skills across web, branding, print, social media and interactivity. What is Online Learning? With online learning you design your schedule. You create your own campus.there are no set hours per week and you complete your assessments when you are ready. You study whenever you want, wherever you want. Online learning has changed: there are so many ways to reach your trainers and fellow students when you need them. We ve even created a multitiered platform called OpenSpace, specially designed to link our people and resources to each other. You can meet a Study Buddy in your area. You can access the Gale library for free. You can even download your course material and submit your assignments online. Any questions you may have can be directed to the forum; staying connected with other students has never been so easy.

4 of art and design Course details Course number Delivery method Course duration Assessments E1203 Online Max 24 months Short answer and multiple choice questions, scenario based questions, written reports, demonstrations/presentations, portfolio of evidence, project, visual diary If you ve got a question, we will answer it. Qualification Diploma Nationally recognised Awarded by Yes North Coast TAFE When you study online with Open Colleges there are no strict schedules and no assessment due dates. We allow you to start a course on any day of the year and you complete the course in your own time. Potential Career Outcomes / Junior graphic designer / Junior Mac operator / Assistant web/digital designer / Graphic operator / Package designer Open Colleges has a 3 tiered support system: Trainer Support get an answer to your course question within 72 hours or much less Student Support call us to get all the admin information you need, including course help and how to get started Learner Support we can help you with essay planning, study tips, time management, study plans and so much more If you ve got a question, we will answer it. By studying with Open Colleges, you ll get the qualification you want in the most flexible way.

5 of art and design How is the course assessed? During the course, you will undertake: / Multiple choice questions / Short answer questions / Written reports / Demonstrations/presentations / Portfolio of evidence / Project / Visual diary What about Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)? 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 on the Open Colleges website, provides more information about our RPL process. Alternatively, you can contact an enrolment consultant to discuss your RPL options. What learning materials are included with this course? Your learning materials are accessed through OpenSpace. These include: / Online activities / Self-check quizzes / Simulated design studio / Video interviews of design experts / Rich media such as design websites, publications, blogs and videos What is the duration of the course? The maximum duration for the course is 24 months. To complete the course in this timeframe, we recommend that you study a minimum of 12 hours per week. This is a guide only the time taken to complete your course will depend on your level of skill and knowledge. DURATION RPL ADMISSION

6 of art and design What are the admission requirements for this course? Education Requirements To enter this qualification, you need to be able to demonstrate graphic design skills to support learning at the Diploma level. In particular, you 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 To ensure you meet these requirements, you will be asked to complete two graphic design tasks using Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and/or Photoshop: / Task 1: Produce an A3 (297mm x 420mm) typographic poster that gives reasons why you want to be a graphic designer. The poster must: - Use only 3 colours - Use only one serif font and 1 sans-serif font - As part of the design process, undertake some research into current design trends and incorporate this into your design Important note: While working on your poster and postcard you must take 2 screenshots while the piece of work is in development. This allows us to see the software and tools that you are using. / Task 2: Produce a 105mm x 148mm postcard to match your typographic poster. The postcard must: - The postcard should share the same style and theme and typography, however, it can only be black and white. - The postcard should only have 1 reason why you want to be a graphic designer on it. Select the reason that is most important to you. Important note: While working on your poster and postcard you must take 2 screenshots while the piece of work is in development. This allows us to see the software and tools that you are using. Education Pathway Our exclusive Graphic Design Pathway has been developed for new entrants to graphic design. It s a 27-month direct entry course which combines the Graphic Design Essentials and the CUA50715 Diploma of Graphic Design. No experience is necessary, although a love and flair for art and a basic proficiency in computer applications is recommended. This pathway gives you everything you need to start your career in graphic design: / The Graphic Design Essentials will introduce you to the elements and principles of design, colour theory, and typography. You will work with a design brief and learn the basics of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign via Adobe TV. / Then, progress to the diploma course, where you will develop advanced graphic design skills and explore your curiosity and focus on the importance of creating and gathering your own projects. Visit our website for more information.

7 of art and design Minimum Age Requirements You will need to be at least 18 years old. English Language Requirements This course requires learners to read comprehensive learning content, interpret a range of assessments, undertake research and engage in online discussion forums. As such, entry to the course requires English proficiency to Year 10 level. Where prospective learners have not successfully completed English at Year 10 level, they can demonstrate equivalency in one of the following: / A NRT qualification at Certificate II level or higher, OR / 2 years industry experience in a role that requires the use of written documentation and communication. Requirements Open Colleges recognises that not all people are able to read, write and perform calculations to the same standard. To help give you an idea of the language, literacy and numeracy skills required to study this course, you can undertake the online Language, Literacy and Numeracy tool available on the Open Colleges website. This assessment tool can also help you determine your learning level and plan your future studies.

8 of art and design Computing Requirements All users: / Microsoft Office 2013 or above / Adobe Creative Suite subscription (see page 8 for more information) / Broadband Internet connection. Please note, ADSL2+ minimum, is recommended due to the volume of downloading and uploading large files required by the course / 8GB of RAM minumum, 16GB recommended / 1280 x 800 display (1280 x 1024 recommended) with 16 bit colour and 512 MB of V RAM / Adobe Acrobat / Access to a printer and associated software / Scanner and associated software / File compression software / Hard disc storage 1T. or above. / Back-up: External Hard drive 1T or above Mac OS users: / Mac OSX El Capitan v 10.11.4 COMPUTING Windows: / Microsoft Windows 8.1 or higher (Windows 10 recommended) / 1.3GHZ minimum or faster processor (2GHz recommended)

9 of art and design Audio-Visual Requirements You will need access to a digital camera or mobile phone with camera and related software for taking photos for design tasks and projects and documenting design processes. Skill Requirements To successfully complete this course, learners will require the following basic computing skills on enrolment: / 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 Adobe Creative Cloud You will need to arrange a subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud which will provide all software, technical support and training material for the Adobe Creative Suite. Adobe Creative Suite is available at a discount for students. Proof of eligibility may include student number, tuition bill or transcript. This will be at the student s own cost. See www.adobe.com.au for more information. Professional Accreditation From day one of your studies, you become part of the graphic design industry. You ll receive a student membership with the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA) for the 24 month duration of your enrolment. AGDA is the peak professional body for Graphic Design professionals in Australia. I found the online learning experience to be excellent. If ever I needed help in understanding an assignment, I just emailed the trainer who always replied very quickly. Marcus Raven Open Colleges student

10 of art and design What support services are available? During your studies with Open Colleges, you will have access to a comprehensive range of support services. These include: Academic Support Your experienced Trainers and Assessors are available in OpenSpace to answer any questions you may have regarding the learning materials or assessments. Your trainer can also provide you with advice and support regarding the overall course. Student Support Peer Support As a student of Open Colleges you can also access our Study Buddy system. This enables you to connect with other Open Colleges students studying your course that live near you. Students may find this is a great way to keep motivated and build lasting friendships and networks. More information? The Student Handbook, available on the Open Colleges website, provides more detailed information on the support services available to students. We recommend that you read the Student Handbook prior to enrolling with us. The Student Support Team is your one-stop service centre for all student administrative issues including enrolment, change of contact details, OpenSpace support, assessment results and certification. You can access the Student Support Team via OpenSpace or by email or phone. Learning Support The Learning Support Team is a dedicated team of specialists that provide you with a comprehensive induction to studying with Open Colleges as well as specific support if you encounter learning difficulties during your studies. Learning support resources, such as writing guides, are available in OpenSpace. You can access the Learning Support Team via your Trainer and Assessor or the Student Support Team. SUPPORT

11 of art and design What will I obtain on completion of the course? Upon successful completion of this course you will receive a nationally recognised qualification awarded by from North Coast TAFE (Provider Number 90010). What funding support options exist? Austudy/Abstudy This course is Austudy/Abstudy approved, but you will need to apply directly to Centrelink for information on eligibility. QUALIFICATION

12 of art and design Study Periods and units Once you are enrolled in this course, you will receive access to Study Period 1, 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 study period. Study Period Code and unit title 1 Typograghy CUAGRD503 Produce typographic design solutions 2 Create and manipulate graphics CUAGRD504 Create and manipulate graphics 3 Colour CUAACD401 Integrate colour theory and design processes 4 Research visual communication CUAGRD501 Research visual communication history and theory 5 Drawing and illustration 6 Branding and identity 7 Print and packaging 8 Design briefs 9 Digital design and UX 10 Your design practice CUAACD501 Refine drawing and other visual representation tools CUAILL401 Develop and refine illustrative work CUAGRD607 Develop graphic designs for branding and identity CUAGRD505 Design and manipulate complex layouts CUAGRD502 Produce graphic designs for 2-D and 3-D applications CUAPHI514 Prepare digital images for pre-press processing BSBDES502 Establish, negotiate and refine a design brief BSBADV509 Create mass print media advertisements CUAACD512 Work with photomedia in creative practice CUADIG509 Investigate technologies for the creation of digital art CUADIG506 Design interaction BSBDES403 Develop and extend design skills and practice CUAGRD506 Develop graphic design practice to meet industry needs CUAIND402 Provide freelance services CUAPPR503 Present a body of own creative work For full course competency details visit www.training.gov.au. Note: Courses offered by Open Colleges on behalf of North Coast TAFE may include Units of Competency that are graded by TAFE NSW. Students studying through Open Colleges are not subject to TAFE NSW grading criteria.

13 of art and design Studying with Open Colleges Open Colleges provides you with the freedom to study where and when you want. We understand that our students are constantly juggling multiple priorities, so our unique learning approach has been specifically designed to enable you to fit education and training around your lifestyle. After you enrol with Open Colleges you will be provided with access to OpenSpace our virtual campus. Here are some of the key features and benefits of OpenSpace: Access Access your learning materials, assessments and additional online resources wherever you have an internet connection. You can also download your study guides, workbooks and assessments so that you can study wherever and whenever it suits you. Connections Connect with your trainers, assessors and other students. You can participate in the lively student forums, link up with a Study Buddy or engage with your trainer. OpenSpace is also where you will submit your assessments and receive your grades. Knowledge FREEDOM OpenSpace is your link to Gale our extensive online library. Through Gale you will have access to millions of academic, magazine and newspaper articles from around the world. Support Access the student support team using the online enquiry feature. OpenSpace also provides a detailed searchable database of Frequently Asked Questions, so that we can provide you with 24/7 responses to many common queries. You can also contact the student support team by phone on 1300 473 129. To make your learning experience as easy as possible, we will send you a copy of any textbooks or other materials that are required as part of your course.

14 of art and design How to Enrol Enrolling with Open Colleges is easy: Enrol online today. Just visit our website, select your course and click Enrol Today OR Enrol by phone. Just call one of our friendly enrolment consultants on 1300 853 033 Need more information? We appreciate that choosing the right course is important. If you would like to discuss your career or course options, please do not hesitate to call our enrolment consultants on 1300 853 033 or email enquiry@opencolleges.edu.au with your questions. I would like to thank you for allowing me to study with you. This experience has opened my eyes to what I want to do for the rest of my life... I can t wait to receive my certifcate! I have had nothing but good experiences with you. Letiesha Laidlaw Open Colleges student 2011

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