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Advice for teachers -
Visual Communication Design

Guide

In addition to the requirements outlined in the Cross study specifications on pages 9 to 13 of the study design, the following provides a guide for the selection of other components used to produce visual communications.

Methods

Refers to the manual and digital processes used to make the visual communication

Drawing

Drawing for:

  • Observation
  • Visualisation
  • Presentation

Ways of drawing:

  • Manual freehand
  • Digital freehand
  • Manual Instrumental
  • Digital Instrumental

Drawing systems:

2D:

  • Orthogonal
  • Plans and elevations
  • Packaging nets

3D:

  • Isometric
  • Planometric
  • 1pt Perspective
  • 2pt Perspective

Painting

Printmaking

  • Monotype
  • Relief
  • Intaglio
  • Silk-screen

Printing

  • Laser
  • Inkjet
  • Offset
  • 3D printing
  • Laser cutting

Photography

  • Analogue
  • Digital

Digital image manipulation

  • Page layout
  • 3D rendering
  • Design

Collage

  • Manual or digital

3D Process

  • Construction
  • Modelling

Media

Refers to the applications used to make the visual communication

Manual media

  • pencil
  • ink
  • fineliner
  • marker
  • pastel
  • crayon
  • charcoal
  • acrylic paint
  • watercolour
  • gouache
  • dye
  • toner
  • analogue film

Digital media

  • Vector-based programs
  • Raster-based programs
  • Page layout and composition programs
  • Computer-aided design (CAD) programs

Materials

Refers to the surface or substrate that the visual communication is applied to or constructed from (as in the case of 3D model making)

Manual materials

  • paper
  • card
  • wood
  • glass
  • metal
  • clay
  • stone
  • plastic
  • textile

Digital materials

  • screen

Design elements

Components of visual communication

  • point
  • line
  • shape
  • form
  • tone
  • texture
  • colour
  • type

Design principles

Ways of arranging or organising design elements

  • figure/ground
  • balance
    • symmetrical
    • asymmetrical
  • contrast
  • cropping
  • hierarchy
  • scale
  • proportion
  • pattern
    • repetition
    • alternation

Final presentation

Potential formats

  • Logo
  • Signage
  • Flyer
  • Brochure
  • Poster
  • Billboard
  • Postcard
  • Advertisement
  • Map
  • Diagram
  • Symbol/icon
  • Illustration
  • CD/DVD cover
  • Book (cover and layout)
  • Magazine (masthead, cover and layout)
  • Package
  • Point of sale display
  • Exhibition display
  • Web site design
  • App design
  • Motion graphics and film title sequence
  • Storyboard
  • Architectural drawing
  • 3D model
  • Finished drawings for a product
  • Concept prototype (non-working)
  • Brand collateral presentation board