Diploma in Communication Design

Question 1

Visual Communication

Answer

This module allows students to explore and embark on their creative journey to discover and cultivate what it takes to become a successful visual communication designer. Students will learn the importance of how to integrate basic design elements, principles of design, visual composition and relationships to develop and resolve visual problems. Specifically, this course focuses on the design process, function, exploration of various media, graphical experimentation, theoretical and practical skills of visual communication design. The aim of this module is to provide students an insightful experience on the role of visual communication design, purpose, function, process and contemporary practices of visual communication.

Question 2

Digital Studios I (Illustrator)

Answer

This module introduces students to the essential vector drawing tools to unlock their creative potential with Adobe Illustrator while learning useful shortcuts to enhance their design workflow. Students will learn from fundamental to the advanced techniques of adobe illustrator to create and construct logo design, 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional graphics, special visual effects, typographical graphics, realistic illustrations, perspective drawing and 3D packaging mock up presentation. The aim of this module is to equip students with the industry professional skills and techniques to edit and create vector visual graphics and special visual effects in the world of visual culture and highly visual saturated society today.

Question 3

Digital Studios II (Photoshop)

Answer

This module introduces students to the professional practice and experts’ choice of digital image editing, manipulation and photo retouching tools for graphic design and multimedia with Adobe Photoshop. Students will learn from fundamental to the advanced skills and techniques of Adobe Photoshop to create special visual effects, artistic interpretation of images and enhance digital photography. The emphasis includes design process, exploration of advanced Photoshop techniques by integrating raster and vector graphics with Adobe Illustrator to maximizing the creative potential of the tools to create appealing visuals to effectively engage the audiences. The aim of this module is to provide students, graphic designer, web designer, multimedia designer, photographer as well as special effects artist with the professional skills to digital image edit, retouch, process digital image confidently and professionally in your respective profession.

Question 4

Typography and Communication Design

Answer

This module provides students with the theoretical and practical experiences of typography as a visual language and its application in visual communication design. Students will learn the history of type, anatomy, terminology, type classifications, principles of typography, typographic layout, type aesthetic and type choices consideration. The emphasis includes an in-depth understanding of the role, purpose, and function of typography. The aim of this module is to provide students with the understanding of how typographic elements such as letter structure, legibility, readability, tone of voices, type personality, characteristics, mood, selection of type choices, integration of other design elements and visual compositional relationships can create a visual impact in visual communication design today.

Question 5

Corporate Identity and Design

Answer

This module will provide students the science behind every corporation’s ‘persona’. Besides creating the corporate personality, the module also explores the components of a corporate identity programme that will promote consistency in both discipline and application. Students will learn about the coming of corporate communications, the story, visual and package, science of symbols, logos and colours, logotype and semiotics, supporting devices and applications, corporate design mandatories and the corporate identity system and why is it so important.

Question 6

Packaging and Print Technology

Answer

This module offers students an in-depth study of the principles of packaging design and the design process from concepts to three-dimensional forms. Not only will students explore key concepts of the packaging design development process, aesthetics, and visual composition organization, they will also learn about structural construction, technicalities, print production, packaging material and its properties, mechanisms and the overall presentation of the packaging design. The emphasis includes the sustainability and environmental issues associated with packaging design. The aim of this module is to provide students with the necessary skills to analyse and comprehend how packaging design elements (size, shapes, colour, material, graphics, typography, visual images, graphical treatments), choices of material and appropriate printing options can be integrated together as an effective marketing tool, creating impact and influence on consumers’ perception and buying decisions.

Question 7

Editorial Design

Answer

This module introduces students the digital publishing tools and techniques for publications design and gains insights into the professional practice of publication designers. Students will learn the anatomy of publication, design principles of page layout, grid systems, visual elements, and the organization of editorial content through Adobe InDesign software. The emphasis includes conceptual development, design process, choosing appropriate paper stocks, print production, and finishing. The aim of this module is to provide students with the essential publication software, page layout skills, design considerations and practical publishing skills to create the personality and tone for publication to engage defined target audiences.

Question 8

Online Media Design

Answer

This module introduces students to the broad spectrum of online media. Students will learn what is online media, the media types, channels vs social media, as well as the importance of online presence for brands and how to reach an audience through online media. Through audience profiling, planning of campaign schedules and learning the importance of storytelling, students also delve into the UI and UX aspects of online media design, as well as learn, understand the properties of different kind of web languages, in order to effectively curate and design and online media campaign.

Question 9

Communication Design Project

Answer

The Communication Design Project is the final major project for all Diploma in Communication Design students. Students will have to integrate everything they have learnt from the past modules with a self-initiated project. It will allow students to implement their design methods, communication design strategy and design both print and web into a remarkable piece of creative work.