Bachelor of Design Arts
About the Course
Study across art and design disciplines and deep-dive into one of six design areas (majors) to discover and align your individual strengths to a range of professional outcomes.
Integrate design disciplines across fields and experiment with the principles of good design to become a professional with your own creative thumbprint!
Specialise in one of the following majors:
- Fashion & Costume Design
- Filmmaking and Photography
- Graphic and Digital Design
- Interactive Design
- Interior Design
- Visual Art
Note: you need to apply for the Bachelor of Design Arts. You will commence study in your chosen major during your second trimester of the course.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
- K1: Graduates will be able to demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the context, concepts, and principles of business entrepreneurship for creative industries.
- K2: Graduates will be able to identify and explain the business industry standards and expectations for a range of creative industries.
Skills
- S1: Graduates will have broad cognitive skills to analyze and evaluate information, concepts, and ideas aligned to entrepreneurship aligned to creative industries.
- S2: Graduates will have analytical and business skills to develop ideas appropriate for different outcomes and target markets for creative industries.
- S3: Graduates will have advanced analytical, verbal, and creative communication skills to present information in professional formats.
Application of knowledge and skills
- A1: Graduates will be able to apply their knowledge and skills through the practice of appropriate and effective ideas analysis and complex decision-making with a commercial and entrepreneurial business focus to achieve viable solutions.
- A2: Graduates will be able to demonstrate and apply knowledge and skills through the identification and evaluation of effective entrepreneurial practices aligned to appropriate industry and client briefs.
Profile
Critical Thinking
The capacity to make informed decisions by analyzing, questioning, and evaluating information.Communication
The skill of effectively conveying information, ideas, and thoughts to others through various channels and actively listening and understanding others.Problem Solving
The ability to identify, analyze, and find effective solutions to complex problems or challenges.Teamwork
Communicate, listen, and achieve goals through collaboration.Research
The ability to conduct research, gather data, and draw conclusions, effectively navigating challenges and making informed decisions.Adaptability
The capacity to adjust and thrive in changing circumstances, embracing new situations and approaches with flexibility.Ethical and Social Responsibility
The ability to make informed decisions that consider the impact of their work on individuals, communities, and the environment.Cultural Awareness
Understanding and respecting diverse perspectives, traditions, and norms.Leadership
Inspiring and guiding others with vision, empathy, and strategic decision-making.Digital Literacy
Master digital tools and technologies to effectively execute tasks and projects.
Career Prospects
We are witnessing a renaissance of creativity!
In Victoria, 1 in 10 employees (171, 149 people) now work in creative industries.
Major global corporations (Deloitte, KMPG) and medium-sized companies constantly seek Creative Directors and design experts.
Let’s innovate a brighter future, together.
Find out more at Creative Victoria.
Career Fields
- Graphic Designer
- Illustrator
- Art Director
- Animator
- Interior Designer
- Industrial Designer
- User Experience (UX) Designer
- Web Designer
Diploma & Accreditation
LCI Melbourne's Bachelor's degree is accredited by TEQSA, meeting international recognition standards.
Vital details and provider information are provided.
Visit the National Register for LCI Melbourne's regulatory status.
- Provider Name: LCI Melbourne Pty Ltd (formerly Academy of Design Australia Pty Ltd)
- Trading Name: LCI Melbourne
- ABN: 97 585 592 579
- Provider Category: Institute Of Higher Education
- Provider ID: PRV12113
- CRICOS Provider Number: 02201G
- Head Office: 150 Oxford St, Collingwood, Vic 3066
Required Materials
A list of required materials (e.g., for manual drawing, drafting, and patternmaking) is provided at the beginning of each trimester. Any additional standard or student-licensed software required will be requested by mentors.
Learners are responsible for organising and purchasing materials for final designs.
- Digital device (Mac, PC, tablet)
- External hard drive (Mac/PC Compatible - 2T recommended)
- Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
- Microsoft Office Suite (or equivalent)
Opportunities
Purpose-built facilities and equipment
Access a range of discipline-specific facilities, such as:
- Photography studio with cyclorama
- Interior design swatch and sample room
- Fashion atelier with industrial sewing machines
- Personal studio spaces for visual artists
- OHS compliant aerosol workshop
- Mac computer labs with design software
- Dedicated design library
- Communal student lounge & kitchen
- Public art gallery
Explore different materials, patterns, and designs to effectively harness cutting-edge tools to craft and enhance your creative endeavours.
Acquire practical skills through hands-on experiences with industry-standard equipment, software, and technology.
Work experience
Getting a job is integral to the LCI Melbourne experience.
Professional Practice units follow a unique educational model combining work opportunities and industry-aligned curriculum.
Participate in:
- Industry projects
- Exhibitions
- VIP events
Gain sought-after experience while you study.
Admissions Criteria
Local applicants
- Satisfactory completion of Australian Year 12, or one of the equivalent qualifications as defined under minimum academic entry requirements.
- An Admission Consultation
ATAR scores are not used in the consideration of your application. Unscored VCE (or equivalent) is accepted for entry.
Students must be 18+ years of age at commencement of course.
Find out more about new exemptions for Year 12 applicants via VTAC
International applicants
- Satisfactory completion of Australian Year 12, or one of the equivalent qualifications as defined under minimum academic entry requirements;
- Proof of English Language Proficiency (IELTS overall score of 6.0, with no skills band lower than 5.5 or equivalent like TOEFL, Pearson Test of English or CAE);
- An Admission Consultation.
- A current Student visa to study in Australia. Australian visas are issued by the Department of Home Affairs;
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
Students must be 18+ years of age at commencement of course.
List of Units
Exploration, Contextual, and Professional Practice Units
Exploration Units
Discover design fundamentals via workshop-based study that focus on expanding foundational understanding of design.
Workshop: Body (WRKB)
Focus on adorning the body. Explore the importance of identity in art and design. Play with the translation of 3D to 2D. Explore soft materials and form.
Workshop: Image (WRKI)
Learn the fundamentals of image capture via photography and film. These translate into contemporary digital display contexts, including popular social media applications.
Workshop: Message (WRKM)
Explore and play with digital software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator). Develop product and brand identity constructs using bold and confident ideas.
Workshop: Space (WRKS)
Focus on the environment and responsible innovation, learning to create and understand 3D spaces that connect, engage, challenge and disrupt.
Visual Foundations (ACC111)
Explore a range of design communication methods, from design concept through to ‘the pitch,’ including technical illustration, image manipulation, and layout.
Elective: Brand Strategy (ELE001)
Create a brand strategy for a new product, experience, or retail concept. Develop a Brand Tool Kit and explore promotional aspects that capture branding.
Elective: Design & Wellbeing (ELE002)
Further design and artistic processes. Study and apply wellbeing in creativity through the lens of people, place, and product.
Contextual Units
Explore the impact of context (e.g., historical, trends, visual thinking, technology, culture) on designers' and artists' work and realisation of vision. Experiment in a collaborative learning environment to articulate and understand key influences on art and design.
Design, History & Culture (AXC111)
Explore significant moments from the history of art and design, and interrogate the milestones and foundations that have shaped creative practice.
Social Trend Forecasting (AXC121)
Develop an understanding of how trends are forecast. Analyse, discuss, and develop concepts. Communicate insights by forecasting social and cultural impacts.
Design, Issues & Impact (AXC231)
Explore basic concepts important to critical thought and its visual application. Analyse storytelling and narrative aligned to key themes and concepts.
Global Design Culture (AXE241)
Challenge and reference cultural and sub-cultural shifts. Analyse and respond to social, cultural, and technological changes in modern design, from the industrial revolution to postmodernism.
Professional Practice
Practising artists and designers provide important insights into contemporary practice.
Hear from a range of local and overseas professionals about what is occurring in industry and how they are succeeding in their field. Engage in related personal reflection.
Business Principles (ACC241)
Undertake an entrepreneurial project that engages with the creative industries. Critically analyse business models, supply systems, and production methods. Develop ideas and opportunities to support design business growth.
Professional Practice & Systems (BPC351)
Gain specific insights into selected industry concentrations. Explore systems embedded into the industry relevant to their discipline from concept to consumer.
Professional Placement (APE241)
Further your practical design education in a professional practice placement.
Personal & Professional Practice (BPC361)
Position yourself within your industry, investigate appropriate career pathways, prepare applications for roles in design and art organisations.
Professional Communication (BCC351)
Participate in a capstone project that provides a platform to showcase a final body of work as a major digital or physical project installation.
Design Laboratories
Learn and practise knowledge and skills specific to your major in LCI Design Laboratories, the core of the Bachelor of Design Arts degree.
Engage with the full spectrum of the design and artistic process in studio-based labs. Respond to an industry brief, work on a global project, with a global brand, or generate ideas to solve contemporary issues.
Progress through a series of lab themes (foundational, issues, global and industry) beginning in trimester 2. Put it all together in your final lab: produce and showcase an advanced body of work that expresses your creative ethos.
Design Laboratory: Foundation (LABF101, LABG101, LABI101, LABID101, LABP101, LABV101)
Develop foundational knowledge in a creative discipline. Explore conceptualisation, contextualisation, and prototyping within the industry practice. Acquire the essential skills to realise designs.
Design Technology (APF121, APG121, API121, APID121, APP121, APV121)
Develop introductory technical skills required to perform professionally in your major area of study. Engage with interactive design, 2D, and 3D technical design. Create design templates and digital models.
Design Laboratory: Issues (LABF102, LABG102, LABI102, LABID102, LABP102, LABV102)
Consider the implications of issues impacting the creative industries. Apply art and design solutions. Explore issues around sustainable practice and the application of responsible innovation in relation to ethics, aesthetics, and technical constructs.
Design Sub Major (ASF111, ASG111, ASI111, ASID111, ASP111, ASV111)
Develop foundational knowledge in an alternate discipline. Acquire basic skills and understanding, conceptualise ideas, and contextualise work within an alternate industry practice.
Design Laboratory: Global (LABF203, LABG203, LABI203, LABID203, LABP203, LABV203)
Immerse yourself in innovative and forward-thinking collaborative projects, gaining insight into the global world of art and design. This studio provides the opportunity for global interface, including projects with international brands, specialists, and cross-campus collaborations.
Design Laboratory: Industry (LABF204, LABG204, LABI204, LABID204, LABP204, LABV204)
Develop concepts aligned to an external brief, interacting with a brand, company, or organisation related to your discipline. Evaluate and develop solutions, presentations, and concepts for specific industry projects at a professional level.
Design Laboratory: Capstone (LABF205, LABG205, LABI205, LABID205, LABP205, LABV205)
Undertake an individually guided research and development project to create innovative art and design solutions. Have your work assessed by a panel, convened to determine a final grade for this unit.
Tuition & Aid
LCI Melbourne is an Australian–Government accredited Institute Of Higher Education providing Australian Domestic students with access to FEE-HELP.
FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that assists eligible students to pay tuition fees.
