SAT-workflow - Unit 3 and 4 VCD SAT - Possible Workflow Diagram - Components 1-13

Sep 20, 2026

A possible workflow diagram for VCE Visual Communication Design (Unit 3 and 4) SAT, detailing how to design communication outcomes across Components 1–13. It outlines research methods to identify and describe design problems, gather insights through divergent thinking, and apply H-C-D research. It then guides selection of design fields, brief development, creation of design criteria (including PUGH matrix), and generation of ideas using visual principles and creative techniques. Finally, it supports refinement, evaluation, pitching, producing mock-ups or prototypes, and resolving visual language to meet brief requirements, ending with delivery and presentation formats.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Components 1 & 2

Identify and describe design problem

Use divergent thinking and H-C-D research methods

Component 3

Explain design problem and analyse insights

Components 4 & 5-6

Generate and develop design ideas

Explore design elements, principles, methods, media and materials

Components 7-12

Refinement, resolution, pitch feedback, and final presentation formats

Component 13 and Deliver

Use visual language to address distinct communication needs

UNIT 3 AND 4 VCD SAT POSSIBLE WORKFLOW DIAGRAM Components 1 & 2 Design research methods to discover communication problems. Identify & describe design problem Use divergent thinking to gather insights for design problem • Mind map/ Brainstorm • Research topic articles Use H-C-D research methods Choose field/s of design practice Understand designs & inspirations • Competitor analysis/ Good Designs • Primary/ field research • Desk/ secondary research Component 5 & 6 Develop and present a range of design ideas drawing on the design criteria. Component 3 Use convergent thinking to explain design problem Analyse & present insights • Aggregate, summarise & present data • Sort, classify and present research (4Q Matrix, etc) Determine communication needs within field/s of design Brief • Draft Brief • Write Brief • Sign off Brief Write design criteria (for PUGH Matrix) synthesising conceptions of Good Design School date Component 4 Generate design ideas exploring design criteria • Visualise design ideas • Explore design elements & principles and Gestalt principles of visual perception • Explore methods, media and materials Annotations describe & evaluate: • design ideas School date Component 5 Develop, explore & expand ideas • Develop design elements & principles, GPoVP • Develop methods, materials & media • Use divergent thinking strategies and creative thinking techniques (SCAMPER, Forced associations, Sprinting, etc.) to broaden ideas Begin to incorporate technical or style conventions Annotations explain & evaluate: • use of methods, media & materials, design elements, principles & GPoVP, reflecting on good design School date Component 7 Refinement and resolution of design concepts for two communication needs. Component 8, 9 & 10 Evaluation and presentation of design concepts drawing on requirements of the brief. Use convergent thinking to: Produce mock-ups or prototypes for one design concept for • select design concepts (Pugh Mtx, SWOT, PMI, POOCH) each communication need Refine & resolve visual language & conventions • Create mock-ups drawing on design criteria • Refine methods, materials & media • Annotations evaluate mock-ups referring to design criteria • Refine design elements & principles, GPoVP • Refine conventions for field/s of design practice • Refine communication of ideas & information Annotations describe, evaluate & reflect on: • refinement & resolution of design concepts School date School date Presentation of design solutions to address the distinct communication needs specified in the brief. Component 13 Use of visual language to address the distinct communication needs specified in the brief. (These criterion descriptions are found on pages 7-14 of the VCE Visual Communication Design: Administrative Information for School-based Assessment 2026) . Component 9 Pitch • Produce visual & written material, referring to design criteria, Good Design) • Present pitch • Give & receive feedback • Evaluate, synthesise & School date present feedback Component 11 Two presentation formats to meet requirements of the brief • Design two different presentation formats to address communication needs using conventions for the chosen field/s of design practice Component 10 Use convergent thinkig to further refine design concepts post feedback School date | | | --- | | | | Component 12 | Select and apply: • methods, materials & media in two design solutions Resolve: • the use of conventions in two design solutions Annotations evaluate: • the selection & use conventions and conceptions of good design School date Component 13 Resolve: • visual language in two design solutions, considering feedback from pitch & design criteria Annotations evaluate: • the selection & use of visual language & conceptions of good design to address design

FAQs

How are design problems identified and supported in Components 1 & 2?

Students use divergent thinking to gather insights, such as mind maps/brainstorming and research topic articles, and apply H-C-D research methods to identify and describe the design problem.

What steps are required to determine communication needs and write the design brief and criteria?

Communication needs are determined within the chosen design field(s), followed by drafting, writing, and signing off the brief. Design criteria are then written by synthesising conceptions of Good Design, including using a PUGH matrix.

How does the workflow refine and evaluate design concepts before delivery?

Convergent thinking is used to aggregate and classify research insights, then ideas are developed and expanded. After pitch feedback, students further refine concepts, select and apply methods/materials/media and conventions in two solutions, evaluate mock-ups, and resolve visual language to meet brief requirements for delivery and presentation.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Maya Linwood