Communications 1 (COMM 1016) - (Visual Merchandising and Display).
This module introduces the student to oral, written, and visual communication theory and practice. This module facilitates the student's understanding of the relevance of communication in visual merchandising. The lecturer will guide students in delivering their visual work visually and verbally in the context of critique and workbook presentations. Practical areas covered include using technologies such as PowerPoint/Keynote to present research and concepts, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator to create and enhance visual presentations of their design work.
Students will also be required to undertake tasks in groups, developing team brainstorming techniques and the skills to work in a creative team.
Module Delivery
This module is delivered in Semester 2, Year 1 of TU795 Bachelor of Arts in Visual Merchandising and Display at TU Dublin School of Art and Design.
Learning and Teaching Methods
Learning modes include weekly lectures, presentations, and hands-on demonstrations of the various topics covered in the course. This module predominantly uses project-based learning to ensure active participation and encourage students to learn by doing and reflect on their learning. Group discussions are facilitated with practical laboratory practice.
This module is delivered through lectures, workshops, class discussions, Studio projects, team-based learning, guest lecturers, group discussions, peer-based critiques, and studio visits.
Delivery will align with best practices and use student-centred, active, communicative, and problem-based methodologies. The lecturer will act as a facilitator in the classroom, ensuring students actively contribute through pair work, group work and peer learning activities. Students will receive regular feedback on their progress per the concept of ‘feedback to feedforward’. More specifically, the feedback will inform students what they need to do to improve their professional design knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The lecturer will advise them on how to amend their class materials to meet students’ needs.
Assessment
Assessments for this module include a design assignment supported by design research, concept sketches, and iterative design development toward a final proposal to answer a design brief based on module learning outcomes.
Upon successful completion of this module, the learner will be able to:
Students learn to communicate their research and concepts verbally in a professional manner
Students learn to communicate their research and concepts visually in a professional manner
Students learn to gain control over all the information they want to present and for it to support a critical strategic message
Students learn to use professional tools such as PowerPoint/Keynote to support and make visual presentations.
Professional tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator can be used to support visual presentations.
Learning Hours: Lecture 24 / Self-Directed 76
ECTS Credits: 5.
Reading List
Meggs, P.D. and Purvis, A.W. (2016) Meggs' History of Graphic Design Pub. John Wiley & Sons [ISBN: 9781118772058].
Ambrose, G. and Harris, P. (2015) Design Thinking for Visual Communication Pub. Bloomsbury Publishing [ISBN: 9781472572714].
Yates, D. and Price, J. (2015) Communication Design Pub. Bloomsbury Publishing [ISBN: 9781472534408].
Templeton, M. (2009) Public Speaking and Presentations Demystified Pub. McGraw Hill Professional [ISBN: 9780071601214].
Shaughnessy, A. (2010) How to be a Graphic Designer, Without Losing Your Soul Pub. Laurence King Publishing [ISBN: 9781856697095].