Graphic Design and Media – Specialist Program

In the Graphic Design Media Specialist Program, students are guided by experienced digital media teachers utilising high-class facilities and industry-standard hardware and software such as iMacs, interactive tablets, the Adobe CC Suite and 3D printers. The teaching staff have excellent networks through their own industry experience, along with a wide range of institutional partnerships including Murdoch University, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, and the Black Swan Theatre.

Design and Media are huge growth industries as the world seeks for creative people to solve creative problems. The Graphic Design Media program leads directly to a variety of ATAR pathway courses in Year 11 and 12, including Design, Visual arts, and Media Production and Analysis. Melville Senior High School students consistently rank amongst the top in the State in these courses and find the program enables a rare connection between creative expression and learning. Unlike other secondary schools, Melville Senior High School offers Graphic Design Media from Year 7, ensuring that creative students are fostered and mentored from the very beginning of their high school journey.

Throughout Years 7 to 10, Graphic Design Media students are given Master Class opportunities where professionals from the industry are invited to work with the students to extend and enhance their learning experience. These professional designers and media makers lecture and hold workshops during the program, coming from fields such as fashion, printmaking, animation, architecture, interior design, illustration, photography, film making and industrial design.

Over the course of the year, students undertake one major project from each of the four major contexts: spatial design, 2-dimensional design, film and time-based media; and interactive/photographic media.

Graphic Design Media Testing and Interviews

The Specialist Program Prospectus is HERE. A folio is to be submitted on the day of testing. Year 5 students submit their portfolio in Year 6 when they will receive a letter about dates regarding folio and interview, and Year 6 students submit their portfolio on the day of their interview.

The testing process consists of writing, general aptitude and Maths. The test requires no prior study.

Enrolment Details and Folio Submissions

Enrolment in the Graphic Design Media program involves completing the Specialist Program testing process when students are in Years 5 and/or 6. This involves an academic test, submission of a folio of art and design work on the day of the interview (should the student be invited to interview post-academic test), and an interview in Semester 1. Students in other year groups are welcome to apply to join the program as sometimes vacancies arise.

Folios should showcase the applicant’s personal creativity in applied art and design tasks. These can include photography, drawings, cartooning, animation, website design, fashion design, film, and 3D design. These are suggestions rather than constraints, meaning the folio is welcome to include anything your child has made for a purpose. Only digital portfolios will be accepted. See below for further information on portfolio requirements.

Students in the program are required to provide their own laptop and bring it to every class. This will be one of their main tools over the duration of the program. This laptop replaces the iPad that all students are expected to have from Year 7 – there is no need to purchase both. For further information regarding required digital devices, please see our Digital Devices page by clicking HERE.