BE: Visual Communication (11021.2)
| Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| View teaching periods | On-campus |
Bruce, Canberra South Bank, QLD UC College, Bruce, ACT |
| EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
| 0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Arts And Design |
| Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
| School Of Design & Built Environment | Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory Unit | Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021) |
- freehand illustration/hand-sketching and its use for analyses and/or explorations
- drafting - the fundamentals of orthographic drawing, three-dimensional projections, technical drawing standards and conventions, collage, and modelling techniques to aid the communication of design ideas
- model-making - an introduction to various techniques of three-dimensional representation and exploration
- presentation - the ability to present work verbally and clearly articulate project ambitions to a range of audiences, as well as understand the implications of different types of representation in the communication of built environment projects, and
-multimedia communication strategies - the ability to strategically curate and orchestrate different types of representation techniques as a cohesive set of documents.
The representation skills acquired in this unit are fundamental tools for the communication of the design projects developed for core unit BE: Analysis Studio.
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:1. Use and develop analog drawing/sketching methods to explore and represent ideas;
2. Apply techniques of model-making as a device for the communication of ideas;
3. Build and present verbally and visually a Communication Strategy as a cohesive and carefully curated set of documents; and
4. Apply and orchestrate different design communication techniques and to position them within a broader disciplinary and historical context.
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
Skills development
This unit celebrates pre-digital modes of representation, and equips students with an understanding of, and the skills to, produce two fundamental languages in architectural communication: drawing, and modelling.
Students will learn the linetype and lineweight conventions of the orthographic drawing set (plan, section, and elevation), and will explore this understanding in weekly workshops and assignments. Along with these essential two-dimensional representations, students are introduced to three-dimensional representations, in the form of the plan-oblique drawing, and the sectional model.
In addition to acquiring a fundamental understanding of drawing conventions, students will be exposed to how certain types of orthographic drawings foreground distinct architectural qualities, and simultaneously, what certain orthographic drawings might hide about a project. From weekly lectures featuring examples from modern and post-modern architects, students will begin to understand that acts of analogue architectural representation are highly curated and selective pursuits, and that certain drawing and modelling types are fundamentally linked to different architectural concepts and approaches.
The representation skills acquired in workshops, and the knowledge of various examples of drawing and model-making from lectures, are fundamental tools for the BE: analysis studio, and other design studios going forward in this degree.
Prerequisites
None.Corequisites
None.Incompatible units
None.Equivalent units
None.Assumed knowledge
None.| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 1 | 16 February 2026 | On-campus | Dr Sally Farrah |
| 2026 | South Bank, QLD | Semester 1 | 16 February 2026 | On-campus | Ms Corinne Trang |
| 2026 | UC College, Bruce, ACT | UC College Trimester 1 | 02 March 2026 | On-campus | Miss Swarali Sidhaye |
| 2026 | UC College, Bruce, ACT | UC College Trimester 3 | 26 October 2026 | On-campus | Miss Swarali Sidhaye |
| 2027 | South Bank, QLD | Semester 1 | 15 February 2027 | On-campus | Ms Corinne Trang |
| 2027 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 1 | 15 February 2027 | On-campus | Dr Sally Farrah |
| 2027 | UC College, Bruce, ACT | UC College Trimester 1 | 01 March 2027 | On-campus | Miss Swarali Sidhaye |
| 2027 | UC College, Bruce, ACT | UC College Trimester 3 | 25 October 2027 | On-campus | Miss Swarali Sidhaye |
Required texts
Recommended readings
• Ching, Frank. Architectural Graphics. 6th 2015. Available online, and several physical copies in the UC library
• Unwin, Simon. Analysing Architecture. London: Routledge, 1997. Available online
+ Further reading (technical readings)
• Lewis, Paul, Tsurumaki, Marc, and David J. Lewis. Manual of section. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2016.
• Montague, John. Basic perspective drawing: a visual approach. 6th ed. London: Wiley, 2013.
• Yee, Rendow. Architectural drawing: a visual compendium of types and methods. London: Wiley, 2007.
+ Further reading (conceptual readings and examples of drawing)
• Aureli, Pier Vittorio. The Possibility of an Absolute Architecture. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2011.
• Carpo, Mario. The working drawing: the architect's tool. London: Park Books, 2013.
• Cook, Peter. Drawing: The Motive Force of Architecture. London: Wiley, 2014.
• Eisenman, Peter. Cities of Artificial Excavation: the work of Peter Eisenman, 1978-1988. Montreal: CCA, 1994.
• Eisenman, Peter, and Robert Somol. Diagram Diaries. London: Thames & Hudson, 1999.
• Evans, Robin. Translations from drawing to building. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1997.
• Evans, Robin, and Eva Blau (eds.). Architecture and its image: four centuries of architectural representation: works from the collection of the CCA. Montreal: CCA, 1989.
• Evans, Robin. The projective cast: architecture and its three geometries. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1995.
• Fernandez-Galiano, Luis. Norman Foster, drawings 1958-2008. London: Ivory Press, 2010.
• Frascari, Marco. From models to drawings: imagination and representation in architecture. New York: Routledge, 2007.
• Frascari, Marco. Eleven Exercises in the Art of Architectural Drawing: Slow Food for the Architect's Imagination. New York: Routledge, 2011.
• Gandelsonas, Mario. ‘The Order of the American City: Analytic Drawings of Boston'. Assemblage 3, 3 (1987): 63- 71.
• Hejduk, John. John Hejduk, 7 houses. New York: IAUS, 1979.
• Hejduk, John. Education of an architect. New York: Rizzoli, 1988.
• Kipnis, Jeffrey. Perfect acts of architecture. New York: MoMA, 2001.
• Koolhaas, Rem et al. S, M, L, XL: OMA, Rem Koolhaas, and Bruce Mau. 2nd ed. New York: Monacelli Press, 1998.
• Krier, Leon. Drawing for Architecture. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2009.
• Schrijver, Lara. Oswald Mathias Ungers and Rem Koolhaas: Recalibrating Architecture in the 1970s. Bielefeld: Transcript Verlag, 2021.
• Smith, Kendra Schank. Architects' drawings: a selection of sketches by famous architects through history. Boston: Architectural Press, 2005.
• Ungers, Oswald M. Oswald Mathias Ungers: the dialectic city. Milan: Skira, 1997.
• Ungers, O. M. et al. The city in the city: Berlin: a green archipelago. Zürich: Lars Müller Publishers, 2013.
Submission of assessment items
Extensions & Late submissions
Artificial intelligence
Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit.
GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:
- the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
- the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
- the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.
Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.
The GenAI for StudentsLinks to an external site. Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.
Format and submission of assessment items
Assessment 1A + 1B: physical drawings, high quality scans (can be done on campus, min. 300 dpi), and digital upload to Canvas (one .PDF file)
Assessment 02: photographs of sectional model, scanned collage, and digital upload to Canvas (one .PDF file)
Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.
Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.
UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).
UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.
Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.
Participation requirements
Attendance at scheduled lectures and workshops, and your participation over the semester is expected. Presentation and discussion of your work in progress is essential for the development of your skills in meeting the learning outcomes of the subject and for your design education.
Participation in learning sessions and reviews provides important opportunities for feedback and demonstrates that the submitted work is your own.
In order to receive a grade of Pass or better, students must bring their work in progress to all sessions, reviews and juries as detailed in the unit outline. Assessment items that have not been presented for review during the semester as required may not be submitted for final assessment.
Please advise the Unit Convener or Tutor/s if you are unable to attend a particular class or workshop.
Required IT skills
High quality scanning (min. of 300 dpi) using A3 scanners available on campus; formatting files to acceptable file sizes; formatting to a combined .PDF file type.
In-unit costs
Please take advantage of the 1st Year Drawing & Modelling Kits prepared by Eckersley's Art & Craft (visit www.eckersleys.com.au) to minimise these costs, leaving only the cost of materials required for the physical model.
Both kits can be purchased via the following link: https://www.eckersleys.com.au/university-of-canberra-arts-design-kits
Drawing equipment will be required from Week 1, and modelling equipment from Week 6 onward.
Work placement, internships or practicums
None.
Additional information
Canvas Announcements
Announcements made during lectures, workshops, or posted to the unit Canvas site and/or sent to your UC student email address, will be deemed to have been made to the whole group. Students are responsible for regularly checking the Canvas site and their UC student email.
Consultation with Staff & Tutors
Contact with tutors should generally be within the allocated class times. Consultation outside of these hours shall be by prior appointment, and in addition to, not in lieu of, the scheduled class time. Students who fail to attend classes, and who do not have a Medical or Counsellor's Certificate or other genuine reason for missing classes, should not expect additional tutorial or consultation time. Please note emails are not checked/answered at nights, weekends, or public holidays. Please ensure any urgent matters are brought to the Tutor's attention in class, or notify the Convener via email.
End of Semester Clean Up
Studios are to be cleared of work and generally cleaned up at the end of each semester. Projects not removed by the advertised date may be discarded without further notice.
- Semester 1, 2026, On-campus, UC - TAFE Queensland, South Bank (233792)
- UC College Trimester 1, 2026, On-campus, UC - University of Canberra College, Bruce (233793)
- Semester 1, 2026, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (233791)
- UC College Trimester 2, 2025, On-campus, UC - University of Canberra College, Bruce (233797)
