National Diploma in Graphic Design- Level 5

Course Outcomes and Aims

This qualification recognises the skills and knowledge required of an independent professional designer to produce and implement solutions from a client brief. A person holding this qualification is able to research, conceive and develop designs for capital and consumer goods.

Design work at this level demands the integration of knowledge and skills across a broad range of complexity. This qualification has been designed to be delivered and assessed on or off job.

Summary of specific course aims:

St George Diploma in Graphic Design Level 5

This qualification is designed to:

• To achieve the specific skills set that is required by the industry

• To be technically and academically compliant by giving students a solid design foundation

• To gain the necessary level of qualifications for further study in graphic design and related fields leading to the bachelor degree

• To prepare the student for an employable skill

• To task the student to create a series of portfolio

• To provide a nationally recognised qualification for people who are pursuing a career in the graphic design, or related fields

This qualification is also designed to allow the credit achieved in the National Diploma in Graphic Design (Level 5) to be used for cross credit to the Bachelors degree in Fine Arts.

St. George will focus and deliver in the strand of Graphic Design.

Intakes

Jan 11th 2010, May 24th 2010, Oct 4th 2010

Length of Study

2 years, in 4 semesters, each semester is 18 weeks in direction. (ie, total of 64 weeks)

Entry Requirements

Entry to the first 18 weeks of the course:

Students who have completed the National Certificate in Design (Graphic Design) Level 2, 3 and 4 will be given the first preference.

Entry to the second 18 weeks of the course:

Students with an advanced level of graphic design knowledge, demonstrable graphic software and digital aptitude, developed creative skills equivalent or more to the National Certificate in Design (Graphic Design) Level 2, 3 and 4 will be suitable to enter the 2nd semester.

Entry to the final year of the course:

Entry to the final year requires the student to have passed the core subjects indicated in the first year Graphic Design Course. In addition, the student will again be asked to submit artworks and design relevant to the course taken and must show a keen interest and evidence of developing skills through the submission of the artwork in their chosen media.

Programme structure

• Graphic Design
• Design - professional practice in design and construction consultancy
• Generic Design
• Generic Computing

Mode of delivery

The delivery will be through a mixture of theory teaching and experiential learning using a range of learning methods; such as:
in-class computer based exercises, projects, written exercises, case studies, simulations and presentations. The balance of theory to experiential learning is 50/50.

Certification

The Diploma in Design (Graphic Design) Level 5 will be awarded to people who have met the assessment requirements of the National Diploma in Design (Graphic Design) Level 5 and have achieved 259 credits at level 4, 5 and 6. All students will receive a Certificate of Achievement, which will list all the unit standards gained by the student and provide a record of the student’s attendance.