Professional Design Practice 2: Design and Career Management (DESI 4107) - (Visual Communication Design).
This module aims to help learners become more familiar with the practices and demands of today’s design industry. Learners will begin to explore various career options available within the design sector and reflect on their career development. They will also become aware of the vital role that critical skills play in helping them uncover the hidden job market.
Module Delivery
This module is delivered in Semester 2, Year 2 of TU973, the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Design—Visual Communication, at the TU Dublin School of Art and Design (Elective).
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.
The module will allow students to understand and critique design practice through real-world cases.
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:
Generate original copy and multiple design concepts
Understand the design process
Document design process through notebooks
Understand the relationship between information and visual design
Data Visualisation
Make an oral and visual presentation
Design a self-promotional piece
Learning Hours: Lecture 24 / Self-Directed 76
ECTS Credits: 5.
Reading List
White, A.W. (2022) The Elements of Graphic Design Pub. Allworth [ISBN: 9781621537595].
Newark, Q. (2007) What is Graphic Design? Pub. Rockport Publishers [ISBN: 9782940361878].
Shaughnessy, A. (2010) How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul (New Expanded Edition) Pub. Laurence King Publishing [ISBN: 9781568989839].
Twemlow, A. (2006) What is Graphic Design For? Pub. Rotovision [ISBN: 294036107X].
Oldach, M. (1995) Creativity for Graphic Designers Pub. North Light Books [ISBN: 158180055X].