DECO1015: Visual Communication
Skip to main content
Unit of study_

DECO1015: Visual Communication

2025 unit information

This unit of study introduces students to the principles of visual design, including gestalt theory, principles of graphic design, colour theory and typography. Students will develop an understanding of how to successfully combine visual elements to effectively communicate an idea or concept, to describe a product, and to represent visual user interface elements in an interactive product. Using industry standard software such as Adobe Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC and InDesign CC, students will learn how to develop design concepts and how to turn concepts into visual communication materials in the form of digital documents.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning

Study level Undergraduate
Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
? 
None
Corequisites:
? 
None
Prohibitions:
? 
DECO2101
Assumed knowledge:
? 
None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. have gained experience in using digital software to create visual communication materials
  • LO2. demonstrate basic proficiency in core graphic design concepts, including layout, information hierarchy, typography, and use of graphics as visual communication devices
  • LO3. have a conceptual and practical understanding of the role of the design brief for generating basic visual designs for communicating ideas, projects, or concepts
  • LO4. demonstrate skills in designing a range of visual communication content through a series of tutorial exercises and design projects
  • LO5. have foundational understanding and practical experience of communicating messages through visual design

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2025
Normal day Camperdown / Darlington, Sydney
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2020
Normal day Camperdown / Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Camperdown / Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Camperdown / Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Camperdown / Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2024
Normal day Camperdown / Darlington, Sydney

Find your current year census dates

Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.

Important enrolment information

Additional advice

This unit is for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Design Computing only. Students from other programs should enrol in DECO2101.