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

  1. Introductory exposure to graphic design and communication concepts with the goal of providing broad-based understanding and their relevance to image production and communication

  2. Expose students to visual communication practices through conceptualisation and implementation and the tools most appropriate to concretely realise their ideas

  3. Analyse and determine the appropriate visual communication strategies and form factors as it relates to their formal area of study

  4. Gain an applicable working knowledge of how designers collaborate with other disciplines

  5. 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 Modules

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 4
ID1223 Principles and Approaches to Design 4
ID1121 Human-Centred Design 4
Elective courses 8
ID2119 Typographic Form and Communication 4
ID3126 Motion Design 4
ID3128 Electronic Media and Production 4
ID3129 Visual Systems – Signs, Symbols, Icons 4
ID3130 Branding and the Elements of Storytelling 4
DTK1234 Design Thinking 4

Courses Description

For more information on the courses, please click here.

Eligibility

All NUS undergraduates in Level 2 and 3 of a 4-year programme , except BA (Industrial Design) are eligible to apply for the Minor. 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

The application to join the Minor should be made by the start of the fifth semester (Year 3 Semester 1) of the undergraduate candidature.

Application is via EduRec. Please refer to the Academic Plan Application/Declaration (APAD) website for more details. There is only one intake each academic year at the end of Semester 1, to join at the following Semester 2.

For enquiry on Minor in Visual Communication Design, please direct your queries to askid@nus.edu.sg 

Late applications and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Withdrawal Procedure

Students who wish to withdraw from the minor programme at any time, please inform askid@nus.edu.sg