Bachelor of Design
at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia.
A studio-led design degree spanning visual communication, product, interaction and spatial design. Most programmes culminate in a major design project and portfolio show.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the Edith Cowan University Bachelor of Design. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official TISC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
First year at ECU's Mount Lawley campus is a broad design foundation: design thinking and process, typography and visual language, drawing and image-making, introductory digital tools (Adobe suite, prototyping software) and design history. You build a working portfolio from your first studio projects. Second year you focus a major such as graphic and visual communication design, user-experience and interaction design, or game and digital design. Studio work becomes brief-driven, with weekly critiques, and you learn user research, layout systems, motion and front-end prototyping. ECU runs industry-set briefs and live projects with Perth studios. Third year is capstone year: a self-directed major project, a professional-practice unit covering freelancing and studio workflows, and a graduate portfolio show that is the key recruitment moment for agencies and in-house teams. You graduate with a polished folio rather than a licence.
Example first-year subjects
- Design Thinking and Process
- Typography Fundamentals
- Drawing and Visual Language
- Digital Design Tools
- Design History and Context
- Introduction to Interaction Design
How you will be assessed
- Studio briefs and design projects with critiques
- Working portfolio and folio development
- Process journals documenting research and iteration
- Short written reports on design history and theory
- Capstone graduate project and folio show
- Peer review and group presentations
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as visual designers, UX designers and industrial designers in agencies and in-house teams.
- Common destinations include digital product agencies, advertising studios and the in-house design teams of major retailers and banks.
- Many alumni progress into design leadership, design strategy and freelance practice within five years.
Professional accreditation
- DIA membership eligible
Typical first jobs
- Junior graphic or visual designer at a Perth agency
- Junior UX or UI designer in a product team
- In-house designer for a retailer, bank or government body
- Freelance designer building a client base
- Digital or social-media content designer
- Game or motion designer at a studio
- Design or production assistant
Graduate starting salary
$50,000 - $62,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
Most graduates move into junior design roles at Perth agencies, in-house teams or as freelancers, building their folio and reputation over the first few years. Postgraduate options include a Master of Design, specialist study in UX or digital media, and the Master of Teaching (Secondary) for those who want to teach design and media. Honours is available for research-leaning students.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Visual thinkers who already make and tinker with design
- Students who accept and act on critique of their work
- People who iterate and refine work over many drafts
- Self-starters who build a folio and personal projects
- Curious students who follow design and tech trends
It is probably not for you if
- Students wanting a heavily theoretical or exam-based course
- Those uncomfortable presenting unfinished work for critique
- People seeking a guaranteed salary and single job title
- Students who dislike software tools and constant revision
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the Edith Cowan University handbook and on TISC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/ecu/bachelor-of-design.