Academics

COMMUNICATION DESIGN: Translating ideas into images

Communication Design is an exciting and challenging course that serves as an introductory step into the world of graphic and print design. The course explores the underlying foundational elements and principles of design in order to provide students with a clear understanding and appreciation of what it takes to produce good design. Students will learn to analyse briefs and visualize concepts, as well as explore and examine typography, corporate identity design and branding systems, advertising, packaging and editorial design and layout.

Currently ethics, social responsibility and sustainable design are at the forefront of the design industry’s ethos. The Communication Design Department endeavours to embrace the above-mentioned ethos to cultivate designers that will uphold and protect the profession and industry as well as having excellent design skills and technical knowledge of appropriate software and commercial reproduction methods.

What is Communication Design all about?

Communication Design explores graphic design, advertising, branding, editorial design as well as packaging design in both a conventional and a more experimental sense.

The global shift towards an information economy is increasing the importance of Communication Design to an unprecedented level. Never before has design played such an invaluable role in the success or failure of all forms of corporate and social communication.  The Department of Communication Design therefore aims to provide students with the tools necessary to identify, analyse, translate and condense information into easily digestible and audience-appropriate visual messages.

Why study Communication Design at The Open Window?

A multidisciplinary approach: The most successful designers are often multifaceted in their approach to visual communication. Only The Open Window offers such a variety of specialised visual communication courses on such a high level of proficiency.

Stimulating creative environment: The Open Window campus is well equipped with facilities and technologies that create a stimulating environment where students and staff can engage in thought-provoking discussions, debates, demonstrations and workshops.

Industry engagement: The Open Window endeavours to provide students with the necessary exposure to the design profession by developing projects under the guidance of various high-profile industry partners.  

Awareness of the latest design trends: The Open Window is a progressive School that leads industry into new trends and contemporary design developments.

What will you do in the course?

Communication Design is an exciting and challenging course that serves as an introductory step into the world of graphic and print design. The course explores the underlying foundational elements and principles of design in order to provide students with a clear understanding and appreciation of what it takes to produce good design. Students will learn to analyse briefs and visualise concepts, as well as explore and examine typography, corporate identity design and branding systems, advertising, packaging and editorial design and layout.

Career possibilities?

Communication Design graduates can apply for positions or work as freelancers in any of the following industries:

Graphic design: including the design of corporate communications material, logo and brand development, the design of brochures, pamphlets, newsletters and vehicle branding.

Advertising: including large format advertising such as billboards, building wraps, product branding and in-store promotional material, as well as all other forms of print advertising.

Editorial design: including magazine, newspaper, newsletter or book design.

Packaging design: for all product categories.