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Course code P79

Bachelor of Design

Creative thinkers made here.

Creative thinkers made here.

Why ECU?

About this Course

The design industry is undergoing a dynamic transformation, with jobs in cutting-edge fields like Service Design, Human-Centred Design, and Experience (UX) Design rapidly replacing traditional positions in Graphic, Spatial, or Digital Design.

If you’re a designer, this is precisely where you want to be. This shift not only represents the future of design, but also opens the door to exciting and in-demand career opportunities.

You’ll learn to create products, systems, services or environments that are functional and user-friendly, collaborating with other professionals such as engineers, marketers, and project managers to bring your designs to life. And when you graduate, you’ll also have a portfolio of real client work to launch your design career.

Course code P79

Entry requirements

ECU admission and English language requirements apply.

See Course Entry for further information.

Fees

See Fees and Scholarships for further information.

Duration

3 years full-time or part-time equivalent

See Course Details for further information.

Availability & Campus

Location Semester 1 Semester 2
Joondalup
Mount Lawley FT PT FT PT
South West
Online
*FT = Full-time study PT = Part-time study

About this Course

The design industry is undergoing a dynamic transformation, with jobs in cutting-edge fields like Service Design, Human-Centred Design, and Experience (UX) Design rapidly replacing traditional positions in Graphic, Spatial, or Digital Design.

If you’re a designer, this is precisely where you want to be. This shift not only represents the future of design, but also opens the door to exciting and in-demand career opportunities.

You’ll learn to create products, systems, services or environments that are functional and user-friendly, collaborating with other professionals such as engineers, marketers, and project managers to bring your designs to life. And when you graduate, you’ll also have a portfolio of real client work to launch your design career.

Course code P79

CRICOS code 115038H

Entry requirements

ECU admission and English language requirements apply.

See Course Entry for further information.

Fees

See Fees and Scholarships for further information.

Duration

3 years full-time

See Course Details for further information.

Availability & Campus

Location Semester 1 Semester 2
Joondalup
Mount Lawley FT FT
South West
Online
*FT = Full-time study PT = Part-time study

Course Entry

Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.

  • All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • AQF Cert IV;
    • Successfully completed 0.25 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
    • Undergraduate Certificate;
    • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • University Preparation Course;*
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
    • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment; or*
    • Experience Based Entry Scheme.*

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

    For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.

  • English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
    • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.0 (no individual band less than 6.0);
    • Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
    • University Preparation Course;
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
    • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment;*
    • AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree;
    • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
    • Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

Don't have an ATAR?

Some of the majors in this course don't require an ATAR for entry. Find out how to apply using our Creative Humanities Portfolio Entry pathway.

How to apply

Course Entry

Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.

  • All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • AQF Cert IV;
    • Successfully completed 0.25 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
    • Undergraduate Certificate;
    • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • University Preparation Course;*
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
    • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment; or*
    • Experience Based Entry Scheme.*

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

    For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.

  • English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
    • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.0 (no individual band less than 6.0);
    • Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
    • University Preparation Course;
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
    • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment;*
    • AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree;
    • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
    • Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

Don't have an ATAR?

Some of the majors in this course don't require an ATAR for entry. Find out how to apply using our Creative Humanities Portfolio Entry pathway.

How to apply

Course Details

Semester availability

Semester 1: Study full-time at Mount Lawley

Semester 1: Study part-time at Mount Lawley

Semester 2: Study full-time at Mount Lawley

Semester 2: Study part-time at Mount Lawley

Course Structure

Students are required to complete 12 Core units and 8 elective units. Students that complete a 4-unit, subject-based Elective Sequence may nominate to have this recorded on their transcript as a minor in the subject area. Alternatively, students may complete any other combination of major, minors, or elective units from the School of Arts and Humanities or other Schools with the approval of the Course Coordinator.

Year 1 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DES1600Design Foundations15
DES1610Digital Design15
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Year 1 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DES1615Design Knowledge15
DES1605Design Prototyping15
DES1620Design Thinking15
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Year 2 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DES2600Design Studies15
DES2650Experience Design Studio30
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Year 2 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DES2114Strategic Visual Communication15
DES2660Service and System Design Studio30
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Year 3 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DES3650Design Studio 130
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Year 3 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DES3610Design Futures15
DES3660Design Studio 230
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15

Students can choose any combination of electives from any of the recommended elective lists or any other combination of major, minors, or elective units from the School of Arts and Humanities or other schools where available with the approval of the Course Coordinator. Students that complete a 4 unit subject-based Elective Sequence may nominate to have this recorded on their transcript as a minor in the subject area.

Photography - Elective Sequence
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
PHO1125Camera Work and Lighting15
PHO1130Studio Work15
PHO2105Photo Work15
PHO3201Photojournalism and Editorial Practice15
Visual Arts - Elective Sequence
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
VIS1800Foundations of Art Practice 115
VIS1810Drawing15
VIS1820Painting15
VIS2815Time-based Art15
General Recommended Electives
Unit Code Unit TitleCredit Points
NOTE: Acceptance into SAH2650, SAH3650 and SAH3660 is by application only
IAS2340BlaK Matters: Indigenous Sci-fi and Futurisms, Ancient Knowledge for an Exciting Future15
CMM1610Understanding Audiences15
CMM2605Principles of Inclusive Communication15
CCC3109Speculative Fiction15
PSY1101Introduction to Psychology15
PSY1204Social Determinants of Behaviour15
MKT1600Marketing Principles & Practices15
MKT2608Consumer Behaviour15
SAH2650Professional Experience: Internship or Project15
SAH3650Professional Placement 130
SAH3660Professional Placement 230

P79|1

For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.

Student handbook

Course notes

Important course notes

  • In SAH2650 Professional Experience: Internship or Project, students will be able to select workplace-based or project-based environments. In the workplace-based track, students will embark on a minimum of 100 hours of professional placement work experience within a public, private or not-for-profit organisation relevant to their academic studies. In the project-based track, students will engage in a project for a public, private or not-for-profit organisation that tackles a
    real-world challenge in collaboration or consultation with an industry partner.
    In SAH3650 Professional Placement 1 and SAH3660 Professional Placement 2, students will gain relevant work experience by undertaking a minimum of 225 hours (per unit) of professional placement with a public, private or not-for-profit host organisation which is relevant to their academic studies.

Course learning outcomes

  1. Apply design concepts, approaches and processes to a range of situations and contexts.
  2. Think critically to analyse, interpret and conceptualise complex design scenarios.
  3. Apply creativity and design thinking to understand the complexity of a problem and co-design transformations in response.
  4. Use digital literacy skills to access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information from multiple sources, and create design outputs that are relevant to the community needs.
  5. Communicate design concepts and ideas clearly, coherently and with independence.
  6. Demonstrate a global outlook with respect for cultural diversity, including Indigenous cultural responsiveness.
  7. Work collaboratively and demonstrate initiative to implement social, sustainable, and ethical values in design situations and contexts.
  8. Demonstrate autonomy, accountability, judgement, planning and management for own learning and scholarship and/or professional practice.

Course Details

Semester availability

Semester 1: Study full-time at Mount Lawley

Semester 2: Study full-time at Mount Lawley

Course Structure

Students are required to complete 12 Core units and 8 elective units. Students that complete a 4-unit, subject-based Elective Sequence may nominate to have this recorded on their transcript as a minor in the subject area. Alternatively, students may complete any other combination of major, minors, or elective units from the School of Arts and Humanities or other Schools with the approval of the Course Coordinator.

Year 1 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DES1600Design Foundations15
DES1610Digital Design15
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Year 1 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DES1615Design Knowledge15
DES1605Design Prototyping15
DES1620Design Thinking15
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Year 2 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DES2600Design Studies15
DES2650Experience Design Studio30
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Year 2 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DES2114Strategic Visual Communication15
DES2660Service and System Design Studio30
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Year 3 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DES3650Design Studio 130
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15
Year 3 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DES3610Design Futures15
DES3660Design Studio 230
Elective UnitUnit from elective sequence, recommended electives or alternative elective option 15

Students can choose any combination of electives from any of the recommended elective lists or any other combination of major, minors, or elective units from the School of Arts and Humanities or other schools where available with the approval of the Course Coordinator. Students that complete a 4 unit subject-based Elective Sequence may nominate to have this recorded on their transcript as a minor in the subject area.

Photography - Elective Sequence
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
PHO1125Camera Work and Lighting15
PHO1130Studio Work15
PHO2105Photo Work15
PHO3201Photojournalism and Editorial Practice15
Visual Arts - Elective Sequence
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
VIS1800Foundations of Art Practice 115
VIS1810Drawing15
VIS1820Painting15
VIS2815Time-based Art15
General Recommended Electives
Unit Code Unit TitleCredit Points
NOTE: Acceptance into SAH2650, SAH3650 and SAH3660 is by application only
IAS2340BlaK Matters: Indigenous Sci-fi and Futurisms, Ancient Knowledge for an Exciting Future15
CMM1610Understanding Audiences15
CMM2605Principles of Inclusive Communication15
CCC3109Speculative Fiction15
PSY1101Introduction to Psychology15
PSY1204Social Determinants of Behaviour15
MKT1600Marketing Principles & Practices15
MKT2608Consumer Behaviour15
SAH2650Professional Experience: Internship or Project15
SAH3650Professional Placement 130
SAH3660Professional Placement 230

P79|1

For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.

Student handbook

Course notes

Important course notes

  • In SAH2650 Professional Experience: Internship or Project, students will be able to select workplace-based or project-based environments. In the workplace-based track, students will embark on a minimum of 100 hours of professional placement work experience within a public, private or not-for-profit organisation relevant to their academic studies. In the project-based track, students will engage in a project for a public, private or not-for-profit organisation that tackles a
    real-world challenge in collaboration or consultation with an industry partner.
    In SAH3650 Professional Placement 1 and SAH3660 Professional Placement 2, students will gain relevant work experience by undertaking a minimum of 225 hours (per unit) of professional placement with a public, private or not-for-profit host organisation which is relevant to their academic studies.

Course learning outcomes

  1. Apply design concepts, approaches and processes to a range of situations and contexts.
  2. Think critically to analyse, interpret and conceptualise complex design scenarios.
  3. Apply creativity and design thinking to understand the complexity of a problem and co-design transformations in response.
  4. Use digital literacy skills to access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information from multiple sources, and create design outputs that are relevant to the community needs.
  5. Communicate design concepts and ideas clearly, coherently and with independence.
  6. Demonstrate a global outlook with respect for cultural diversity, including Indigenous cultural responsiveness.
  7. Work collaboratively and demonstrate initiative to implement social, sustainable, and ethical values in design situations and contexts.
  8. Demonstrate autonomy, accountability, judgement, planning and management for own learning and scholarship and/or professional practice.

Fees and Scholarships

Fees

Fees for this course have yet to be confirmed for the next calendar year and are scheduled to be available on the Course Fee Calculator from October.

Scholarships

ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.

Find a scholarship

Career Opportunities

With this degree, you’ll find employment in emerging areas like Service Design, Graphic Design, Spatial Design, Healthcare Design, Strategic Design, User Experience (UX) Design, Digital Design or Game Design. Examples might include designing apps for education and training, working with architectural design companies to create visualisations, and planning and managing public spaces, as well as working with information industries such as libraries, archives and museums.

Possible future job titles

Graphic Designer, Spatial Designer, Service Designer, Web Designer, Game Designer, Interior Designer, Conceptual Artist, Illustrator, Sketch-noter, Graphic Facilitator

Fees and Scholarships

Fees

Fees for this course have yet to be confirmed for the next calendar year and are scheduled to be available on the Course Fee Calculator from October.

Scholarships

ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.

Find a scholarship

Career Opportunities

With this degree, you’ll find employment in emerging areas like Service Design, Graphic Design, Spatial Design, Healthcare Design, Strategic Design, User Experience (UX) Design, Digital Design or Game Design. Examples might include designing apps for education and training, working with architectural design companies to create visualisations, and planning and managing public spaces, as well as working with information industries such as libraries, archives and museums.

Possible future job titles

Graphic Designer, Spatial Designer, Service Designer, Web Designer, Game Designer, Interior Designer, Conceptual Artist, Illustrator, Sketch-noter, Graphic Facilitator

Need some help deciding what to study?

Our future student events include a mix of on-campus and online sessions designed to help you decide what to study at ECU.

Experiences

Explore your options

Design graduate Sasha Lai talks about the satisfaction of working on a client brief as part of her studies.

Experiences

Explore your options

Design graduate Sasha Lai talks about the satisfaction of working on a client brief as part of her studies.

Student stories

  • Aimee Chappell

    Aimee Chappell

    ECU Design graduate

    I constantly find myself looking at signs and symbols and thinking, oh, this could be designed better

    And thinking, "What if we did this?" I was always a visual artist and I just wanted to figure out a way to get a consistent income working in that field.

    Through the units in my degree, especially the Fremantle-based unit, The Happiness Project, I realised it wasn't just about graphic design. For me, it's about design communication, designing systems and figuring out how to help people – asking why are we doing this? Who does it affect? How is it helpful? Thinking with empathy.

    I'd always wanted to help people, but I never thought as a creative that I would find a way to both earn an income and do that.

  • Aryana Eraman

    Aryana Eraman

    ECU Design graduate and UX Designer at IBM

    I recommend getting a taste of as many different fields of Design while you are at university.

    My tutor recommended I apply for the UX Designer role as part of the IBM-ECU Internship program. As I completed my internship, I was offered a position as a full-time graduate at IBM. I now work full-time with a major mining company client as the sole UX/UI Designer on my IBM team and as a Business Analyst.

Quick guide to uni-speak

    • The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.

    • ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.

    • CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.

    • A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.

    • Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.

    • If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.

    • If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.

      Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.

    • Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.

    • A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.

    • We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.

    • These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.

    • An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.

Quick guide to uni-speak

    • The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.

    • ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.

    • CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.

    • A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.

    • Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.

    • If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.

    • If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.

      Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.

    • Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.

    • A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.

    • We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.

    • These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.

    • An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.

Do you have any questions about the Bachelor of Design?

The Important Things

Things you should know about if you're thinking about studying here.

Course Entry

There's more than one admission pathway into an ECU course. It depends on what you've studied already, or your work or life experience.

Fees & Scholarships

Course tuition fees can change, but we can give you an estimate of your costs. If you're eligible, a scholarship or student loan can help too.

Applying

Applying for a course is a fairly simple process, especially if you have scanned copies of qualifications, your resume or other paperwork, ready to upload.

ECU Experience

Starting a course is an exciting and sometimes daunting time, so we make a massive effort to ensure you get all the support you need to have a positive experience.