DVB203 Theories and Methods of Visual Communication
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | DVB203 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | DVB101 or DXB102 |
| Equivalent(s): | DXB402, KIB207 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Experience with basic visual communication and image design approaches is assumed knowledge |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,164 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,356 |
| International unit fee | $5,172 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | DVB203 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | DVB101 or DXB102 |
| Equivalent: | DXB402, KIB207 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Experience with basic visual communication and image design approaches is assumed knowledge |
| Coordinator: | Brett Fyfield | brett.fyfield@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit builds on your understanding of the principles of visual communication and its role in determining the values of our contemporary cultures and societies. Through exploring theoretical perspectives, discussions and class exercises you will critique and analyse images and visual communication designs occurring in multiple contexts. In doing so, you will develop further expertise in the production of contemporary communication design and the ethical, social and professional responsibilities of a designer. This unit directly builds upon the Visual Communication and Image Production units while providing opportunities to engage with critical analysis of images and experiences and evidence this through written expression and report writing.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Analyse images and visual design in multiple ways through drawing upon a series of relevant theories and design models.
- Apply research approaches for understanding visual communication designs and convey this understanding within written text.
- Recommend effective visual design strategies or pitch a new design solution, based on your analysis and knowledge of the area.
Content
This theoretical subject will entail an examination of various forms of visual communication, including traditional and contemporary images and designs. Within lectures there will be a focus on the theoretical, philosophical and cultural interpretations of visual communication and how various methods of analysis and visual interpretation are applied. From a range of perspectives, it will be addressed how visual communication affects experience, understandings and culture.
Teaching activities will serve an integral role in teaching you to apply these theoretical frameworks presented in the lecture series to analyse contemporary contexts. Here you will be guided by staff in how to conduct visual communication research using a tool kit of methods, including observational research, visual social semiotic analysis, content and thematic analysis, and experience design models.
Throughout the unit you will also be guided in developing essential skills for articulating your design analysis and then applying this understanding for concept development. This will see a clear connection between theoretical models and future practice being made. You will analyse design examples critically and with a theoretical foundation and explore the impact and agency of contemporary design practice at a sophisticated level.
Learning Approaches
This unit will be delivered through lectures, which will provide theoretical and analytical frameworks for interpreting a range of visual images and designs, and provide examples as case studies. Teaching activities will then provide the opportunity for guidance and group discussions of images and designs that you have researched, collected and documented as a part of your assessment work. Assessment involves self-directed visits/field trips, research and documentation of visual communication designs for analysis. During semester teaching activities may similarly engage in field observations outside the classroom and campus to research, analyse and understand visual designs in context. Overall the approach integrates theoretical concepts through applying research methods to case studies.
In the online mode of this theory unit, you will learn through engaging in a variety of online activities, online self-directed learning, and weekly research and readings that are designed to support your learning experience. The recorded lectures will examine theoretical principles and issues across a variety of design areas, with a focus on contemporary case studies. Throughout the online delivery of this unit, you will receive support from your instructors and peers. You will have access to online resources and materials, and you will be able to communicate with your instructors and peers via various online platforms. A variety of support materials will be published on the Canvas website to coordinate the unit.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in following ways:
- in-class formative exercises
- rubric available online via Canvas
- Canvas announcements and Canvas general comments to cohort group
- collaborative peer feedback.
-
online discussion boards/postings of images e.g. Miro
-
peer and tutor feedback
Assessment
Overview
This unit consists of two major research projects, both based around the communication design theoretical frameworks. The first focuses on a detailed visual analysis of images, drawing on relevant theories. The second entails a complex examination of a design initiative with the aim of utilising design research and analysis to develop key findings and insights, which can inform future directions in design.
Faculty Assessment Information
To access complete Faculty's Assessment Information please refer to the Canvas site for this unit.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Essay with Visual Annotations
Assessment: Experience Design essay with Data Analysis
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
All students and staff who access campus buildings and facilities are required to complete the Tier 1 General Health and Safety Induction. This must be completed online.
Resources
A list of resource materials for this subject will be provided on the subject’s Canvas site.
Resource Materials
Other
To enable your full participation in the virtual learning environment, for example, participating in online activities and engaging with online learning materials, you will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection, webcam, headset and microphone, as well as a learning environment where you are able to fully participate undisturbed when required.
Risk Assessment Statement
For risks associated with using campus buildings or facilities, refer to the Tier 1 General Health and Safety Induction. This must be completed online.
Where substantial computer-based work is required, particularly in the case of fully online students, you are recommended to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work, and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.DE43 Bachelor of Design
- Recognise the consequences of design and its impact on the world, with respect to open, ethical and inclusive core design values acknowledging global, cultural and / or indigenous contexts.
Relates to: ULO1, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Evaluate and translate conceptual and critical design methodologies and tools and transfer to new and complex challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Demonstrate technical proficiencies to undertake rigorous and iterative design experimentation that considers participatory and co-creation design processes.
Relates to: ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Communicate coherently, independently and/or collaboratively using a range of media to convey and share design knowledge and ideas to diverse audiences in a range of contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Use transdisciplinary methods to effectively work in diverse teams to address real-world challenges.
Relates to: ULO3, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Exercise self reflection, resilience, adaptability and self-direction and leverage failure in order to unlock new ideas, approaches, and ways of doing and knowing.
Relates to: ULO3, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis
DE45 Bachelor of Design - International
- Recognise the consequences of design and its impact on the world, with respect to open, ethical and inclusive core design values acknowledging global, cultural and / or indigenous contexts.
Relates to: ULO1, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Evaluate and translate conceptual and critical design methodologies and tools and transfer to new and complex challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Demonstrate technical proficiencies to undertake rigorous and iterative design experimentation that considers participatory and co-creation design processes.
Relates to: ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Communicate coherently, independently and/or collaboratively using a range of media to convey and share design knowledge and ideas to diverse audiences in a range of contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Use transdisciplinary methods to effectively work in diverse teams to address real-world challenges.
Relates to: ULO3, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Exercise self reflection, resilience, adaptability and self-direction and leverage failure in order to unlock new ideas, approaches, and ways of doing and knowing.
Relates to: ULO3, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis
KK43 Bachelor of Creative Industries
- Demonstrate broad and coherent theoretical and practical knowledge required for creative enterprise, career development and interdisciplinary collaborations, supported by depth in at least one creative disciplinary area.
Relates to: ULO1, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Demonstrate well-developed cognitive and ideation skills to identify, analyse and evaluate opportunities to address authentic complex problems.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Demonstrate technical expertise to support skills and knowledge within the Creative Industries.
Relates to: ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Communicate effectively in a range of forms across multiple media modes, for sharing and disseminating knowledge, skills and ideas, and collaborative practice and navigation of social networks.
Relates to: ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Apply and adapt creative disciplinary knowledge and skills with agility in a range of industry, community and intercultural contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Embody social and ethical responsibilities and exhibit well-developed judgement with resilience, integrity, curiosity and responsibility.
Relates to: ULO3, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Online
| Unit code: | DVB203 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | DVB101 or DXB102 |
| Equivalent: | DXB402, KIB207 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Experience with basic visual communication and image design approaches is assumed knowledge |
Overview
This unit builds on your understanding of the principles of visual communication and its role in determining the values of our contemporary cultures and societies. Through exploring theoretical perspectives, discussions and class exercises you will critique and analyse images and visual communication designs occurring in multiple contexts. In doing so, you will develop further expertise in the production of contemporary communication design and the ethical, social and professional responsibilities of a designer. This unit directly builds upon the Visual Communication and Image Production units while providing opportunities to engage with critical analysis of images and experiences and evidence this through written expression and report writing.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Analyse images and visual design in multiple ways through drawing upon a series of relevant theories and design models.
- Apply research approaches for understanding visual communication designs and convey this understanding within written text.
- Recommend effective visual design strategies or pitch a new design solution, based on your analysis and knowledge of the area.
Content
This theoretical subject will entail an examination of various forms of visual communication, including traditional and contemporary images and designs. Within lectures there will be a focus on the theoretical, philosophical and cultural interpretations of visual communication and how various methods of analysis and visual interpretation are applied. From a range of perspectives, it will be addressed how visual communication affects experience, understandings and culture.
Teaching activities will serve an integral role in teaching you to apply these theoretical frameworks presented in the lecture series to analyse contemporary contexts. Here you will be guided by staff in how to conduct visual communication research using a tool kit of methods, including observational research, visual social semiotic analysis, content and thematic analysis, and experience design models.
Throughout the unit you will also be guided in developing essential skills for articulating your design analysis and then applying this understanding for concept development. This will see a clear connection between theoretical models and future practice being made. You will analyse design examples critically and with a theoretical foundation and explore the impact and agency of contemporary design practice at a sophisticated level.
Learning Approaches
This unit will be delivered through lectures, which will provide theoretical and analytical frameworks for interpreting a range of visual images and designs, and provide examples as case studies. Teaching activities will then provide the opportunity for guidance and group discussions of images and designs that you have researched, collected and documented as a part of your assessment work. Assessment involves self-directed visits/field trips, research and documentation of visual communication designs for analysis. During semester teaching activities may similarly engage in field observations outside the classroom and campus to research, analyse and understand visual designs in context. Overall the approach integrates theoretical concepts through applying research methods to case studies.
In the online mode of this theory unit, you will learn through engaging in a variety of online activities, online self-directed learning, and weekly research and readings that are designed to support your learning experience. The recorded lectures will examine theoretical principles and issues across a variety of design areas, with a focus on contemporary case studies. Throughout the online delivery of this unit, you will receive support from your instructors and peers. You will have access to online resources and materials, and you will be able to communicate with your instructors and peers via various online platforms. A variety of support materials will be published on the Canvas website to coordinate the unit.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in following ways:
- in-class formative exercises
- rubric available online via Canvas
- Canvas announcements and Canvas general comments to cohort group
- collaborative peer feedback.
-
online discussion boards/postings of images e.g. Miro
-
peer and tutor feedback
Assessment
Overview
This unit consists of two major research projects, both based around the communication design theoretical frameworks. The first focuses on a detailed visual analysis of images, drawing on relevant theories. The second entails a complex examination of a design initiative with the aim of utilising design research and analysis to develop key findings and insights, which can inform future directions in design.
Faculty Assessment Information
To access complete Faculty's Assessment Information please refer to the Canvas site for this unit.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Essay with Visual Annotations
Assessment: Experience Design essay with Data Analysis
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
All students and staff who access campus buildings and facilities are required to complete the Tier 1 General Health and Safety Induction. This must be completed online.
Resources
A list of resource materials for this subject will be provided on the subject’s Canvas site.
Resource Materials
Other
To enable your full participation in the virtual learning environment, for example, participating in online activities and engaging with online learning materials, you will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection, webcam, headset and microphone, as well as a learning environment where you are able to fully participate undisturbed when required.
Risk Assessment Statement
For risks associated with using campus buildings or facilities, refer to the Tier 1 General Health and Safety Induction. This must be completed online.
Where substantial computer-based work is required, particularly in the case of fully online students, you are recommended to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work, and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.DE43 Bachelor of Design
- Recognise the consequences of design and its impact on the world, with respect to open, ethical and inclusive core design values acknowledging global, cultural and / or indigenous contexts.
Relates to: ULO1, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Evaluate and translate conceptual and critical design methodologies and tools and transfer to new and complex challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Demonstrate technical proficiencies to undertake rigorous and iterative design experimentation that considers participatory and co-creation design processes.
Relates to: ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Communicate coherently, independently and/or collaboratively using a range of media to convey and share design knowledge and ideas to diverse audiences in a range of contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Use transdisciplinary methods to effectively work in diverse teams to address real-world challenges.
Relates to: ULO3, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Exercise self reflection, resilience, adaptability and self-direction and leverage failure in order to unlock new ideas, approaches, and ways of doing and knowing.
Relates to: ULO3, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis
DE45 Bachelor of Design - International
- Recognise the consequences of design and its impact on the world, with respect to open, ethical and inclusive core design values acknowledging global, cultural and / or indigenous contexts.
Relates to: ULO1, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Evaluate and translate conceptual and critical design methodologies and tools and transfer to new and complex challenges.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Demonstrate technical proficiencies to undertake rigorous and iterative design experimentation that considers participatory and co-creation design processes.
Relates to: ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Communicate coherently, independently and/or collaboratively using a range of media to convey and share design knowledge and ideas to diverse audiences in a range of contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Use transdisciplinary methods to effectively work in diverse teams to address real-world challenges.
Relates to: ULO3, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Exercise self reflection, resilience, adaptability and self-direction and leverage failure in order to unlock new ideas, approaches, and ways of doing and knowing.
Relates to: ULO3, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis
KK43 Bachelor of Creative Industries
- Demonstrate broad and coherent theoretical and practical knowledge required for creative enterprise, career development and interdisciplinary collaborations, supported by depth in at least one creative disciplinary area.
Relates to: ULO1, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Demonstrate well-developed cognitive and ideation skills to identify, analyse and evaluate opportunities to address authentic complex problems.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Demonstrate technical expertise to support skills and knowledge within the Creative Industries.
Relates to: ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Communicate effectively in a range of forms across multiple media modes, for sharing and disseminating knowledge, skills and ideas, and collaborative practice and navigation of social networks.
Relates to: ULO2, Essay with Visual Annotations, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Apply and adapt creative disciplinary knowledge and skills with agility in a range of industry, community and intercultural contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis - Embody social and ethical responsibilities and exhibit well-developed judgement with resilience, integrity, curiosity and responsibility.
Relates to: ULO3, Experience Design essay with Data Analysis