How to become a communication designer
A career in communication design, also known as visual communication design, could see you getting paid to spearhead brand and communication campaigns (and maybe even travel the world).
If you’re a persuasive communicator, naturally creative, possess a vivid imagination, know your Electric Green from your Emerald Green, and can juggle multiple projects and deadlines without breaking a sweat – a career in communication design could be for you.
The places a communication design career can take you are countless – New York, Tokyo, Paris – or even a little more off-grid – like the Oaxacan Coast in Mexico (a digital nomad’s fave).
You could work for a magazine, on gallery exhibitions (promoting the likes of Picasso and Ai Weiwei, in advertising, for a company aligned to your personal values (beauty, cleanliness, sustainability, and low-key sarcasm), or for yourself. Read on for everything you need to know about how to become a communication designer.
What does it take to become a communication designer?
To become a communication designer, you need a portfolio.
Did you know? In our Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) course, every student is involved in our Folio Seminar. This week-long intensive includes essential discussions on folios, interviews and everything related to getting a job. Getting qualified will help you get up-to-speed on industry-standard tech. Plus, it’ll help enhance your design thinking and presentation skills, and build your network and that all-important portfolio.
Communication design qualifications range from entry level (you can start with a graphic design certificate IV or diploma) right through to master degrees. As both a TAFE and a university, Swinburne has a course for you, no matter what stage you’re at.
Depending on your communications design course, you could learn about digital design, typography, brand and identity design, web design, packaging design, and much more.
Industry connection is key to success. Getting work integrated learning and joining industry bodies like The Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA) and The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) and the Design Kids are a great way to meet other designers from other fields who may become colleagues, friends, mentors, and employers.
Career proof points from industry
As a communication designer you can expect:
Job outcome stats
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70% of people employed as communication and web designers, and illustrators work full-time hours.
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78% of communication and web designers, and illustrators live in capital cities.
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In Australia, Melbourne has the largest share of people working in these professions.
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There is an even gender split.
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The average age of someone working in design is 35 years.
The main industries of employment include:
- professional, scientific, and technical services
- information media and telecommunications
- manufacturing
- arts and recreation services, and
- a broad range of other industries.1
What skills do you need to become a communication designer?
Sure, you need creativity by the bucket load and an eye sharper than your Nan’s sense of humour. But what other skills do you need to become a visual communication designer?
Critical and creative thinking
Problem solving and decision making
Communicating effectively to audiences
Social perceptiveness
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator).
(Pro tip: As a Swinburne student you get free access to Adobe Creative Cloud. Enjoy over 20 different apps, on any device, anywhere – for as long as you study with us.)
Why study communication design at Swinburne?
Our graduates are bold, creative, and practically-minded problem solvers known for their ability to hit the ground running from day one.
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Top 100 globally for art and design
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#1 in Victoria for full-time graduate employment
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5-star rating for undergraduate overall experience
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Industry experience guaranteed in all bachelor degrees
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5-star rating for undergraduate graduate salaries.
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Access to our on-campus design studio: the Design Bureau, and our partners at the Design Factory Melbourne
5 steps to becoming a communication designer
While it is possible to work as a communication designer without a qualification, getting one (or more) behind you will ensure you know how to wrangle the latest tech, arm yourself with pitching skills, and learn the delicate art of giving and receiving feedback.
1. Get qualified
Most – but not all – employers prefer employees to have a bachelor degree in design. This is typically a three-year course of full-time study. Depending on your individual situation, you can either start with the Bachelor of Design, or ease your way in with a Certificate IV of Design, Diploma of Graphic Design or a Diploma of Design (UniLink). (UniLink is just a different way into the Bachelor of Design.) You can choose to study communication design with our Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) which includes an extra year for you to gain industry experience and polish your folio.
Or, if you have previous qualifications and experience and want to focus on the research and theory side of design, you might like our Master of Design.
| Undergraduate degrees | |
|---|---|
| Communication Design | |
| Career pathways | Students can work in:
|
| Duration | 3 to 4 years full-time Part-time available |
| Delivery | On-campus Online Flexible learning |
| Entry | VTAC from Year 12:
Direct entry for non-year 12:
|
| Work experience | Work Integrated Learning opportunities:
|
| Advanced study pathways | Postgraduate study by coursework or research. |
| Scholarships | Yes |
| Postgraduate degrees | |
|---|---|
| Design | MA-DESG |
| Career pathways |
|
| Duration | 2 years full-time Part-time available |
| Delivery | On-campus Online Flexible learning |
| Entry |
|
| Work experience | Work Integrated Learning opportunities:
|
| Advanced study pathways | Postgraduate study by coursework or research. |
| Scholarships | Yes |
| TAFE courses | |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | |
Career pathways |
|
| Duration | 1 year Part-time available |
| Delivery | On-campus Online Flexible learning |
Entry |
|
| Work experience | N/A |
| Advanced study pathways | Graduates may wish to look into our bachelor courses listed above |
| Scholarships | No |
2. Create a portfolio
As soon as you start designing, set up an online portfolio to start showcasing your work. Pro tip: As a communication designer, it’s especially important to highlight your thinking and process. Clearly describe the design or business challenge, explain your solution or idea, and then present the best images of your work.
3. Get real experience (and real work in your portfolio)
Not everyone is born a natural hustler. But, if you want to pursue a career in the creative industries, getting good at self-promotion is obligatory (sorry!). Ask people you know if they need communication design work done. Whether it be a birthday invitation or a website for a local charity or a pair of ironic coffee mugs for you and your bestie – it all counts.
What’s more, in Swinburne bachelor degrees, you’ll get to experience work integrated learning in actual workplaces (pack that coffee mug).
4. Choose your specialisation
If you’re studying a bachelor degree, you’ll hear a lot about majors. This is your way of tailoring your design degree to suit your interests. If you want to become a visual communication designer, you’d want to choose communication design. But, we also offer industrial design. Plus, in our Bachelor of Design, you can choose from a range of design majors like UX interaction design, motion design, and branded environments.
5. Network
Think about joining the Design Institute of Australia while you’re studying. You’ll get the chance to meet other design students and professionals – from textile designers through to architects. Future collaborators and mentors? Yes, please.
Kick-start your design career at Swinburne.
Like what you see? Browse our design courses to find the one for you. Tomorrow, you’ll be glad you started today.
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