Design courses
Design work is hired on your portfolio, so it's worth knowing what each course gives you to show. You can start with a diploma, or study a degree and specialise in digital, visual or product design. Here's what each one leads to and what it costs.
- Quickest way to start
- 1 year
- Diploma, typical full time length
- What the jobs pay
- $96,200 to $113,300
- median pay across 5 jobs
Which course do you need?
None of these jobs needs a set qualification, but these courses teach what employers look for.
Diploma of Graphic Design
Move into graphic design work
Design logos, layouts, packaging and digital graphics from a client brief, then prepare the files for print or screen.
A job it helps withGraphic Designer
Median pay$96,200
Helps, not required. Employers hire on skills and experience as well as study.
- How long it takes
- 1 year full time
- How you'll study
- Online, on campus or a mix
A bachelor degree in digital design or visual communication
Build skills for digital design work
Design how websites and apps look and feel, choosing type, colour and layout so pages work on any screen.
A job it helps withWeb Designer
Median pay$96,200
Helps, not required. Employers hire on skills and experience as well as study.
- How long it takes
- 2 to 3 years full time
- How you'll study
- Online or on campus
You don't have to do it all at once
You can start with the diploma and study a degree later, while you work in design. Here's how that can look.
- Start with the diplomaYou learn typography, layout and branding, and build a portfolio of work to show employers.
- Work as a junior designerGet your first role in a studio, agency or in-house team and find out which area of design you enjoy.
- Study a degree while you workA degree can open up digital, UX and art direction work, and you can study it part time while you keep working.
The design degrees compared
Both degrees are practical and studio based, and both lead towards design work. The digital design degree covers animation and game design as well as graphic design, while visual communication focuses on turning ideas into messages. Some can be studied online at one or more universities.
- Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)You turn ideas into visual messages, learning layout, typography and digital tools and developing concepts for print and screen. Interactive media is part of the course at some providers.How long2 to 3 yearsMain focusVisual messages for print and screen
- Bachelor of Digital DesignYou learn design methods and production skills, then focus on an area such as graphic design, animation or game design. Creative direction and project management are part of the course.How long3 yearsMain focusDigital media, animation and games
Other university courses
- Bachelor of Design3 years. Suits people who want to work across design fields: you research, sketch, prototype and test ideas, and can specialise in areas such as product and communication design.
- Bachelor of Industrial Design3 to 4 years. For students interested in how products are designed and made, combining sketching with materials, manufacturing methods and how people use a product.
- Diploma of Design8 to 12 months. A broad first look at design for people without a design background, and a way to work out which area of design suits you.
- Bachelor of Design and Technology3 years. Combines design thinking with technical skills for making products, including prototyping, three dimensional modelling and sustainable materials.
Jobs this study can help with
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, not a starting salary.
- Graphic DesignerStudy that can helpDiploma or a design degreeMedian pay$96,200
- Web DesignerStudy that can helpA design degreeMedian pay$96,200
UX DesignerStudy that can helpA design degreeMedian pay$96,200
Creative DirectorStudy that can helpA design degreeMedian pay$113,300
Art DirectorStudy that can helpA design degreeMedian pay$102,700
“In demand” means the job is on the national skills shortage list. Check the course and provider are approved for the work you want, as rules differ by state.
Still not sure which one fits you?
Answer a few quick questions about your time, state and budget, and we'll show the courses that suit you.