Design and creative arts
Study area
Immerse yourself in your creative practice and join a vibrant community of like-minded creatives, as you build a thriving and sustainable career doing what you love.
Join the #1 Victorian uni for overall creative arts course satisfaction
Build the technical and problem-solving skills to create innovative solutions, unlock your creativity in world-class facilities and graduate ready for a successful career.
Disciplines within design and creative arts
Take the next step to a brighter future
Explore our design and creative arts courses and find out more about life at Deakin. Download the study guide to get more inspiration for your future career in a major growth sector.
Get to know design and creative arts at Deakin
Explore Deakin’s creative arts darkroom
Deakin student, Dat, shows us his design portfolio
POV: Studying design and creative arts at Deakin
Inside a Deakin design student portfolio
Want a design or creative arts degree that will make you ready for a successful, sustainable career?
At Deakin you’ll find a home to nurture your talent, challenge you to be better, and the opportunity to make life-long connections with fellow students who share your passion and energy.
Real-world practical experience
You’ll gain practical industry experience during internships and graduate with an impressive portfolio of creative work. Deakin’s flexible approach and emphasis on real-world practical experience will help you develop the leadership skills and entrepreneurial mindset needed to succeed.
Cutting-edge design technology
Our world-class design studios have flexible workspaces where you’ll create using same tools and technologies professionals use. Access a dedicated studio and fully equipped workshop, including the latest software, equipment and technology from day one of your course.
Industry leading creative arts facilities
Experiment, collaborate and push your creative practice to new heights in our purpose-built facilities. We have darkrooms, digital photographic facilities, theatres, performance studios, visual arts studios, film and TV production and edit suites, dedicated computer labs and an advanced motion capture facility.
Professional recognition
Our Bachelor of Design (with major study areas in communication design and interactive and UX design) is formally recognised by the Design Institute of Australia and meets industry standards, giving you a competitive edge with employers after graduation.
Top professional roles in design and creative arts
Graphic and UX designers have potential earnings of $104,000 in Australia and are in demand.* Arts and media professional roles are projected to increase by 15.6% by 2034 according to Australian Government employment projections.^ This growth includes a variety of key creative roles such as:
- 10,200 new jobs for graphic and web designers and illustrators
- 5,200 new jobs for journalists and other writers
- 23,300 new jobs for advertising and marketing professionals
- 3,100 new jobs for film, television, radio and stage directors
- 2,600 new jobs for artistic directors, and media producers and presenters.
Graduate with an employment advantage
Get an experience at Deakin that is like no other. Graduate with the skills and experience to make a difference with a degree from the #1 Victorian university for facilities and resources.
#1 Victorian uni for student support
#207 university worldwide
#1 Victorian uni for course satisfaction
#1 Victorian uni for graduate employment
#1 Victorian uni for facilities and resources
Award-winning uni career service in Australia
Deakin's design community shaped how I lead at Canva; empowering teams, thinking end-to-end and building work that lasts.
Design graduate, Design Lead – Launch Crew, Canva
World-class teaching experiences
With our innovative courses, accomplished academics and cutting-edge technologies, you'll acquire the in-demand skills you’ll need for a sustained career. Connect and collaborate with a vibrant community of creatives and be fully supported as you turn your passion into a meaningful career.
Gain industry experience
Undertake an internship as part of your course and gain critical experience and industry networks. From visual art students staging exhibitions and sharing work at public art festivals to final-year design students collaborating on projects and exhibiting their work.
Benefit from strong industry links
Learn in purpose-built facilities from leading academics and passionate practitioners. You'll get invaluable professional industry experience learning from experienced industry professionals who will challenge you to become the kind of well-rounded creative that employers love.
Design students have access to print labs, trimming and finishing facilities to produce final products at industry standard.
The dark room where students can learn traditional and alternative photographic methods, which includes black and white film processing facilities, and enlargers for 35mm, 120 medium and 4x5 large formats.
Our design spaces include PC and Mac computer labs with the full suite of Adobe software tools, along with industry-grade modelling, animation and video editing software.
One of Deakin’s Dance studios - fully sprung polished timber floor, full length mirrors, remote controlled blackout blinds, comprehensive production lighting and sound infrastructure, portable seating block.
The wardrobe department where creative arts students are supported to make costumes for performance or use costumes from the large storeroom which is filled from so many years of shows.
From paintings to sculpture, projections and performance-based art, you’ll have access to expansive open plan studios that can accommodate a range of practices and installations.
Want to explore more?
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Inside Deakin's School of Communication and Creative Arts
Deakin's cutting-edge communication and creative arts facilities help prepare graduates for a successful career.
Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our University rankings page.
*LightCast, February 2024–January 2025 job postings for Graphic and UI/UX Designers/Developers in Australia
^2024 Employment Projections - for the ten years to 2034, Jobs and Skills Australia
Contact us
Got a question about our design and creative arts courses? Our course advisers are available to speak to you about your study options and how we can help you further your career.
Domestic students
1800 693 888
Enquire online
International students
+61 3 9918 9188
Enquire online
