VCE Studio Arts + VCD

In this area of study, we will:

• examine the relationships between design, place and time, and learn about the influence of context when designing environments in which to live, work and play.  

• analyse how design examples from architecture, interior, exhibition or landscape design reflect and respond to their surrounding context, while considering how designers draw inspiration from other times and places.

We will:

• engage with the Discover and Define phases of the VCD design process to identify environmental design problems specific to a location of choice.

• use research methods to establish influential contextual factors such as economic, technological, cultural, environmental and social influences. 

 

After reframing an environmental design problem in the form of a brief, you will:

• gather inspiration from both contemporary sources and historical design movements and traditions as they engage with the Develop phase of the VCD design process.  

• apply divergent thinking strategies and an iterative process to brainstorm design ideas inspired by contextual factors and selected historical design styles.

• use schematic drawings and ideation sketches while experimenting with design elements and principles.

• choose appropriate manual or digital drawing methods, media and materials to visualise and render forms, and to explore relationships in space from various viewpoints, such as paraline and perspective drawings, plans and elevations.

• use annotations featuring descriptive and analytical design terminology to explain design decisions and to evaluate the strengths and limitations of ideas. 

As we delve into the Deliver phase of the VCD design process, we will:

• critique potential design concepts with your peers,

• respond to feedback using convergent thinking strategies to synthesise ideas.

• make refinements to selected concepts informed by the brief and its design criteria, presenting their resolved design solution as either a model or documentation drawings with technical conventions that comply with Australian Standards. 

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Outcome 1

On completion of this unit you should be able to present an environmental design solution that draws inspiration from its context and a chosen design style. 
To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area of Study 1.

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Key Knowledge

• stages of the VCD design process and their role in developing environmental design solutions

• research methods used to identify environmental design problems

• contemporary and historical design styles and traditions

• contextual factors that influence environmental design projects

• economic, technological, cultural, environmental and social factors that impact environmental design projects

• features and functions of the design elements and principles relevant to environmental design projects

• appropriate design terminology used in evaluative annotations

• two-dimensional drawing methods used to visualise environmental design ideas and concepts, such as schematic drawings, plans and elevations

• methods for representing three-dimensional spaces and structures, such as planometric and perspective drawing, and model-making 

• resolution of effective design solutions to meet the requirements of a brief

• technical conventions used in documentation drawings relevant to environmental design projects 

 

Key skills

• apply the stages of the VCD design process to generate, refine, resolve and present an environmental design solution

• draw inspiration from contemporary and historical design styles and traditions when responding to an environmental design brief

• respond to contextual factors when designing environments

• consider economic, technological, cultural, environmental and social factors that impact environmental design projects

• select and use a range of appropriate manual and digital methods, media, materials, and design elements and principles to visualise environmental design ideas, concepts and solutions

• annotate design ideas and concepts using design terminology to explain and evaluate design decisions 

• present resolution of effective design solutions to meet the requirements of a brief

• apply technical conventions to documentation drawings.

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VCD Study Design, p32-34 https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vce/visualcomm/2024VisualCommunicationDesignSD.docx)

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