What is communication design?

Communication Design is the name of the program that we used to call graphic design. The reason for the name change is that graphic design is now seen as just one element in a broad and evolving range of visual communication disciplines. Graphic design, advertising, publishing, packaging, typography are all areas of communication design and there are many more. The nature of the communication design industry is such that designers are often required to work across a range of disciplines and media including of course the digital environment.

The Communication Design program aims to produce imaginative designers who work creatively in areas where information is primarily conveyed by visual means such as advertising, publishing, publicity, printing, merchandising, digital design, education and research.

What is multimedia design?

Multimedia Design is a dynamic range of time-based visual communication. It includes everything on the web, anything interactive [eg. touch screens], CD roms, DVD’s, digital interfaces, digital animation, video games, Flash technology, mobile phones and a whole lot more. Basically, if it’s graphic and it moves, it qualifies as multimedia.

Billy Blue’s Multimedia Design program develops skills in communication design for digital media including, audio and video specialisation, 3D modelling, typography, programming/scripting for the web, animation, film and television post production and computer interactive mediums.

As you’ve probably guessed, we have a Communication Design stream and a Multimedia Design  stream. The first thing you’ll need to do is decide which of the programs you’re going to study, and enrol into the appropriate stream. The Communication Design stream leads to a Swinburne University's Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) and Multimedia Design stream leads to their Bachelor of Design (Multimedia Design). One of the benefits of studying at Billy Blue is the opportunity to graduate at the end of your 2nd Year with an  Advanced Diploma.

*You are able to receive a Statement of Attainment for each of the modules (subjects) you successfully complete. Statements of Attainment can be used as evidence of vocational skills when applying for a job within the industry or as a credit towards further study at college or university.  

1st and 2nd Year
Advanced Diploma of Communication Design

Communication Design
The first year of the Communication Design stream focuses on the more  traditional areas of visual communication such as design, typography, advertising, illustration, drawing, rendering and studio skills.  
The second year builds on the skills gained during the first year and includes  publishing, digital design, computer rendering, packaging and a semester-long  Major project. You’ll be working on a  broad range of industry based projects  at higher conceptual and  technical levels.

Multimedia Design
The first year of the Multimedia Design stream focuses on the same traditional  areas of visual communication as the Communication Design stream but many of the projects you’ll be working on will concentrate on the time-based nature of multimedia design.
The second year builds on the skills gained during the first year and includes advanced action scripting, video game design, planning and scripting, video  production and a semester-long Major project.

3rd Year
The Bachelor of Design [Communication Design] (050838F, 02364M) and
The Bachelor of Design [Multimedia Design] (050843J, 02364M)
are the two 3rd Year programs at Billy Blue.

The programs have been developed by Swinburne University’s National Institute of  Design and are delivered at the Billy Blue campus in North Sydney. Both programs are managed by the National Institute of Design in partnership with Billy Blue program coordinators and lecturers.

The Degrees are awarded by Swinburne University’s National Institute of Design and are widely recognised by the visual communications industry, nationally and internationally, as being of the highest standard. Both programs educate students to be high level designers and communicators through a wide variety of visual communications projects, through contextual  projects and professional studies. The reputation of the programs and the knowledge and experience you’ll gain will help place you amongst the  leading design graduates in Australia and overseas.

Bachelor of Design  [Communication Design] (050838F, 02364M)
The Communication Design program is structured  to produce  imaginative designers for careers in graphic design, advertising, publishing, packaging, print media, multimedia, planning, strategy and communication design – wherever information is conveyed visually. Students learn through communication-based projects,  together with professional and contextual studies. Through the  program’s strong links with industry, graduates are equipped for employment in advanced areas of communication design.

Bachelor of Design [Multimedia Design] (050843J, 02364M)
Multimedia Design graduates pursue a diverse range of careers in digital film and video production, web site design, video game design, interactive media and more. Students graduate with highly developed skills that cut across a range of  media and disciplines, supporting the shape and direction of employment in a particularly exciting, new industry.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) for the HSC
This course is an important step towards a creative and rewarding career in design. Certificate II in Design Fundamentals provides students with the  knowledge, experience and portfolio they'll need to go on to a successful tertiary education in the visual arts. Students who complete the Certificate will be given advanced standing of the equivalent of five weeks full-time study for the Advanced Diploma in Graphic Art.

Certificate III in Design Fundamentals -
2 Units (Approved Non-Framework)
These exciting courses provide a great introduction  for students who wish to develop their skills and experience in the  fundamental principles of graphic design. Students who have not completed year 12 in High School and Overseas students with a lower level of English than IELTS 6.0 or equivalent will also benefit from this program.

Design Fundamentals
Certificate III

The Billy Blue Design Fundamentals program is an important step towards a creative and rewarding career in design and provides students with the knowledge, skills, experience and portfolio they need to go on to a successful tertiary education in the visual arts. Although the Certificate III can be a stand-alone course, students who successfully complete the program are able to enter the communication  design multimedia design streams.

Alongside this program in the Graphics School there is a dedicated program in the English School to raise students' English level to the equivalent Academic IELTS 6.0 and to complete an Academic Program to meet Graphics School entry requirements. A huge advantage of doing this is that you will be studying here in Australia on the same campus as the Graphics School. This helps students understand the Australian way of life and increase their academic skills for the Australian classroom.

The course runs for 18 weeks for overseas students.