Overview
Visual communication has broad application across a wide range of disciplines. It is vital to empower students with the skills to develop clear and compelling communication whether it be for presentations, posters, branding, data visualisations, videography or time-based communication.
Minor in Visual Communication Design will complement students’ current area of focus (major) by providing foundational visual communication strategies.
Visual communication is a way to communicate ideas graphically in ways that are efficient and help to convey meaning to a particular audience. Students will be exposed to best practices of typographic systems, signs and symbols, visualisation patterns, illustration, drawing and photography/videography.
The intent of the minor is to supplement one’s intended area of study, enabling a broader set of skills. The result is that students will be able to demonstrate range with more diverse employability. Examples include:
| Major | Skills Acquired through Minor in Visual Communication Design |
| Architecture | The ability to engage in Signage and Wayfinding |
| Computer Science | The ability to engage in UI/UX, Data Visualisation, and App Development |
| Business | To engage in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Branding |
| Biomedical Engineering | The ability to develop Data Visualisation |
| Chemical Engineering | The ability to develop Data Visualisation |
| Infrastructure and Facilities Management |
To develop Graphic Communication and Visualisations |
| Communication and New Media | To engage in Poster Design and Graphic Communication |
| Mechanical Engineering | To develop Isometric Diagrams, Conceptualisation, and Product Refinement |
| Medicine and Dentistry | The ability to develop Data Visualisation |
| History | The ability to develop Journey Mapping and Cartography |
| Political Science | The ability to conceptualise Communication Strategy |
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
- Introductory exposure to graphic design and communication concepts with the goal of providing broad-based understanding and their relevance to image production and communication
- Expose students to visual communication practices through conceptualisation and implementation and the tools most appropriate to concretely realise their ideas
- Analyse and determine the appropriate visual communication strategies and form factors as it relates to their formal area of study
- Gain an applicable working knowledge of how designers collaborate with other disciplines
- Provide applicable skills and the ability to evaluate the best communication strategy for a specific message to a particular audience through visual means
Curriculum and Courses
The requirement for the Minor in Visual Communication Design is 20 Units. To satisfy this requirement, students must read a minimum of 5 courses (3 Industrial Design core courses and 2 Industrial Design elective courses respectively) from the lists below.
| Courses | Units |
| Core Courses | 12 |
| CDE2000 Creating Narrative (Semester 1 & 2) | 4 |
| ID1223 Principles and Approaches to Design (Semester 1) | 4 |
| ID1121 Human-Centred Design (Semester 2) | 4 |
| Elective Courses | 8 |
| ID2119 Typographic Form and Communication (Semester 1) | 4 |
| ID3128 Electronic Media and Production (Semester 1) | 4 |
| ID3130 Branding and the Elements of Storytelling (Semester 1) |
4 |
| ID3126 Motion Design (Semester 2) | 4 |
| ID3129 Visual Systems – Signs, Symbols, Icons (Semester 2) | 4 |
| DTK1234/A Design Thinking (Semester 1 & 2) | 4 |
Courses Description
For more information on the courses, please click here.
Eligibility
The Minor in Visual Communication is open to all NUS undergraduates in level 2 and 3 of a 4-year programme, except BA (Industrial Design).
This is a restricted Minor programme and students may apply for the Minor no later than the end of the fifth semester of study.
Successful entry to the Minor is subject to approval.
Application Procedure
Students have to submit an online application on APAD in EduRec within the application period. For more information, please visit the APAD website here.
Application Period for AY2024/2025 Semester 2: 15th November 2024 to 1 December 2024
All applications must be completed and submitted online by 1 December 2024. Late applications and/or incomplete applications will not be considered. Successful applicants will be notified by email.
The user guide for the Academic Plan Application/Declaration function in EduRec can be found here.
For enquiry on Minor in Visual Communication Design, please direct your queries to didnurn@nus.edu.sg
Withdrawal Procedure
Students who wish to withdraw from the minor programme at any time, please inform didnurn@nus.edu.sg
Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the information is accurate and current. However, the University reserves the right to make changes without notice.