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Design & Technology

Graphic Design Pathway Program

CUA50720

This streamlined course will unlock all of your creative potential by covering everything you need to step straight into the professional design industry. Equip yourself with the confidence, technical and business skills you need to thrive.
  • Flexible payment options
  • Study to fit into your routine
  • Nationally recognised accreditation
  • Start studying as soon as you enrol
  • No exams, ever.
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Graphic Design Pathway Program

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    • Pay in 130 weekly instalments

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    • Total course cost: $12,550.00 was $13,350.00

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Graphic Design Pathway Program

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Graphic Design Pathway Program
Start studying today

Intro to Graphic Design Pathway Program

Leap Straight into a Creative Career

Our nationally accredited Graphic Design Pathway Program allows you to step straight into the professional design industry. Learn how to combine technical, creative and conceptual skills to create designs that meet client requirements and solve a range of visual communication challenges. Launch a career as a Graphic Designer today.

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Job Outcomes

Explore More Careers

Job Skills

  • Photoshop
  • 2-D and 3-D work
  • Illustrative work
  • Graphics work
  • Typography
  • Team work
  • Communication skills
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Course breakdown

What you’ll learn in this course

This qualification trains you in all aspects of graphic design. Learn how to combine technical, creative and conceptual skills to create designs that meet client requirements and solve a range of visual communication challenges. Graduate job-ready to launch an amazing career in Graphic Design. Combining the entry-level Graphic Design Essentials with the CUA50720 Diploma of Graphic Design, the Pathway covers everything you need to step straight into the professional design industry when you graduate.

Graphic Design Pathway Program

Graphic Design Essentials

You will complete the Graphic Design Essentials short course first, and then progress to the Diploma of Graphic Design.  You will not get access to the CUA50720 Diploma of Graphic Design until you have completed Graphic Design Essentials. See below:

  • Elements and principles of design 
  • Colour theory 
  • Typography 
  • The design process 
  • The design brief 
  • Digital Design - Adobe Creative Cloud: Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign 

NB: The Graphic Design Essentials section of the Graphic Design Pathway Program is non-accredited training.

CUAGRD503
Produce typographic design solutions
  • Research type as visual communication
  • Analyse design needs
  • Develop ideas for typographic solutions
  • Manipulate and integrate type
  • Integrate type within the overall design
  • Evaluate typographic design solutions
CUAGRD514
Create and manipulate graphics
  • Analyse design needs 
  • Develop and refine ideas for graphics 
  • Create graphic objects 
  • Finalise technical aspects of graphics work 
  • Evaluate graphics work 
CUAACD411
Integrate colour theory and design processes
  • Research information on colour theory and design processes
  • Communicate ideas through the application of colour and design theory
  • Evaluate design work
CUAGRD501
Research visual communication history and theory
  • Select focus for research
  • Conduct critical analysis
  • Present ideas about visual communication history and theory
  • Develop own practice from research
5/ modules
View all
Excellent RTO – Open Colleges fits 100% with my study needs. It offers a very self-paced, non-stressful environment. The staff and trainer were easy to deal with over the phone. The OpenSpace is very simple and easy to navigate with a click of a button. It had podcasts, interactive videos, and quizzes.
Jimmy T.
OC Graduate, May 2023
The support from staff was incredible, and the course helped me grow both personally and professionally. The content covered a wide range of design principles with practical assessments. I was truly happy with the support I received at Open Colleges.
Natasha A.
Design & Technology Graduate, July 2025

Studying with Open Colleges

Study designed to
fit into your routine

What ever your reason for study, our courses are
designed to fit into your routine. 

  • No exams, ever.

    We mean it. Instead, assessments range from open book multiple choice quizzes, portfolios, videos & written assessments

  • Flexible study to fit into your routine

    Study anywhere at any time with 24/7 access to your units.

  • A learning platform optimized for online study

    Our courses are curated to maintain engagement across video, written content, assignments & audio.

Envision your routine while studying with Open Colleges

How quickly do you want to finish your course?

  • 27 months
Learn more about online study
  • Daily routine

Your course may include work placement which will be completed in addition to weekly study blocks.

We'll help you study smarter! 

Get in touch for tailored study advice
Our passionate team

Your trainer

MD Faridul Islam
MD Faridul Islam is the trainer and assessor of Digital Design and Graphic Design. He has been teaching at Open Colleges since April 2018. MD has more than 10 years’ experience in the design industry, including seven years of teaching design in VET.
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MD Faridul Islam

Design & Technology
MD Faridul Islam is the trainer and assessor of Digital Design and Graphic Design. He has been teaching at Open Colleges since April 2018. MD has more than 10 years’ experience in the design industry, including seven years of teaching design in VET.
MD has obtained several qualifications from a range of design courses, including; Masters in Digital Design, Graduate Certificate in Design, Certificate IV in Graphic Design, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Diploma of Screen, and Media and Diploma of Multimedia.

MD has solid industry experience in graphic and digital technology-based designs. His areas of expertise are – logo design, illustration, web design, 3D design, UI/UX, branding and identity, digital design including game development. As a designer, MD believes there is no end of learning. Design is his passion. As a trainer, he learns every day and loves to share his skills among keen design cohorts

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do freelance work?

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Yes, you can! Upon completion of this course, you can pursue work as a Freelance. Freelancing offers opportunities to work on diverse projects, collaborate with different clients, and manage your own schedule.

Do I have to pay additional for the software - Adobe creative suite - or is it provided?

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Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) is not typically free for students. However, Adobe offers special pricing and discounts for students and educators through their Adobe Creative Cloud for Education program. This program provides access to the full suite of Adobe Creative Cloud applications at a discounted rate. To take advantage of student pricing, you usually need to provide proof of your enrolment in Open Colleges, such as a valid student ID, or enrolment confirmation. It's recommended to visit the Adobe website or contact Adobe customer support for the most up-to-date information on student pricing and eligibility.

What devices do I need for the Graphic Design course?

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The specific device requirements for a graphic design course can vary, but generally, you will need a computer with adequate specifications. Most graphic design software, such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.), run on both Windows and macOS operating systems. Therefore, you can choose a computer that suits your preference. It's recommended to have a computer with a decent processor, sufficient RAM, and ample storage space. Additionally, having a graphics tablet can be beneficial for more precise digital drawing and illustration work.

Is this Graphic Pathways suitable for total beginners?

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Is this suitable for total beginners? What level of existing knowledge/ability do I need to have? The good news is, yes! Graphic design courses are often designed to accommodate students with varying levels of experience. Many courses are suitable for total beginners and assume no prior knowledge of graphic design. The curriculum is typically structured to provide a comprehensive foundation and gradually introduce more advanced concepts and techniques. However, it's always a good idea to review the course description or speak with an advisor to confirm the specific entry-level requirements before enrolling.

Study and pay, your way

Payment Options

Week to week
Pay as you go
Save 6%
Pay in $200.00 today & then over 130 instalments
$95.00 Weekly
Total course cost: $12,550.00
Save $800.00
was $13,350.00
Pay Upfront
Save 40%
$8,010.00 Save $5,340.00
was $13,350.00
Full course breakdown
TBD

When can you start? Anytime you like!

There are no start and finish dates, no semesters, so no need to wait. Just enrol and start the path to your new life whenever you’re ready!