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Established since 2002 | One of the oldest design and music schools in the region | Led by field practitioners

Diploma in Communication Design

Design Course Overview

The mission of Orita Sinclair is to develop students into bold and imaginative professionals in the pursuit of their ambitions. The diploma in communication design aims to provide an all-rounded, interdisciplinary design education through excellence in teaching creative and innovative design practices, and building students’ portfolios. The design department is committed to creating an open-minded and creative atmosphere to pursue research and discover collaborative practices that nurture students’ potential through active engagement and participation in a small class size setting. Our graduates understand where knowledge comes from and how to integrate them to influence art, design, and communication. At the end of the course, graduates will be ready to take on a wide range of roles in the creative industry—graphic design, branding, editorial design, digital design, motion graphics, packaging design and campaign strategy. Extremely good. Must not be missed!

Levels of Study (1 Year Diploma + 2 Years Degree)

Levels of Study (1 Year Diploma + 2 Years Degree)

Orita Sinclair 3 Year Degree Pathway

Foundation Diploma in Communication Design – Students first explore the fundamentals of design. They will develop the necessary techniques to create images using both digital and traditional image-making techniques. Students will also build up their language skills to become effective communicators.

Diploma in Communication Design – Students progress on to apply their technical skills in major domains like branding, digital interface, packaging and publication design. They integrate everything together in a capstone final major project.

Students who complete the Diploma in Communication Design after the 1st Year can choose to start working or progress to a Bachelor’s Degree programme in our partner universities.

Bachelor’s Degrees – Students will be able to enter directly into Year 2 of a 3 year Bachelor’s Degree programme to further their journey as designers.

Levels of Study (6 months Foundation Diploma + 6 months Diploma)

Foundation Diploma in Communication Design – Students first explore the fundamentals of design. They will develop the necessary techniques to create images using both digital and traditional image-making techniques. Students will also build up their language skills to become effective communicators.

Diploma in Communication Design – Students progress on to apply their technical skills in major domains like branding, digital interface, packaging and publication design. They integrate everything together in a capstone final major project.

Students who complete the Diploma in Communication Design after the 1st Year can choose to start working or progress to a Bachelor’s Degree programme in our partner universities. To find out more, go here.

Design Course Information

Career Opportunities

Art Director Artworker Brand Designer Brand Researcher Concept Artist
Illustrator Photographer Web Designer Visual Designer

Testimonials

"I graduated with BA Hons in Graphic Design at the University of Derby (UK) after my 1-year Diploma at Orita Sinclair.”

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Nadia Binte Mohammad Roselan,

Graduated from School of Design

"I got a job as a creative strategist in a media company, after graduation from Orita Sinclair.”

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Emanuella Bungasmara Ega Tirt,

Graduated from School of Design

Teaching Faculty

Meet our passionate educators who are all industry practitioners. They are seasoned designers and trend-setters in the creative field.

Boon Lim. Design Faculty.

Boon Lim

Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty

MA in 2D and 3D Visualisation,
Lougborough University
Boon has a decade of working experience in printing, promotions, and advertising, working with brands such as Skippy, Lipton, Martell, Chivas, and Alfa Romeo, and government statutory boards such as BCA and NEA, before moving on to tertiary education.

Loong Cui Wen. Design Faculty.

Loong Cui Wen

Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty

BFA in Visual Communications,
NTU School of Art, Design and Media
Cui Wen has more than 8 years of experience in graphic design and illustration, and has worked with commercial and private clients such as Love and Co, STB and various design agencies to create artworks. She has collaborated with an author on a published children's book, 'If Doors Could Speak'. She has a keen interest in outdoor painting and sketching, as well as creating illustrations in watercolour and acrylic mediums. She also loves to share art making techniques with people of all ages in workshops and classes.

Shawn Heng. Design Faculty.

Shawn Heng

Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty

BDes in Communication Design, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Shawn is a part-time educator, part-time creative, and a full-time dad. He currently leads a design team at DSTNCT, an integrated marketing agency, and has a decade of experience in print, advertising, and (more recently) social media. Shawn has a HOW design award under the Promotion & Marketing category in 2018. as well as SingaPlural Recognition awards for his works in 2016 under the label Simitaiji.

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Eugene Chen

Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty

MA in Communication Management,
University of New South Walesy
Eugene is a practicing IMC Registered Management Brand Consultant (RMC no.10057) with over 23 years of vast creative and branding experience. He holds a Masters of Arts in Communication Management from the University of New South Wales, Bachelor of Science from National University of Singapore and a Cambridge University International Diploma for Teachers and Trainers.
Eugene completed his tours as a creative director at RBW advertising and Brainwave Design and is currently the Founder & Principal of ELEFANT - a brand, communications, and creative consultancy. He is also an Associate Principal Consultant at i1920 Inc - an award-winning brand consultancy.
He is well versed conceptually, strategically and technically in the areas of design, branding & identity system, advertising, production… The 1st Asian Youth Games is his trophy showcase brand among other creative, branding and advertising projects he has done over the years for numerous startup, SME, MNC and government client.
As an educator, Eugene has over 11 years of experience as an Adjunct Lecturer, Student Consultant Mentor and as an Enterprise Business Coach. He cherishes every opportunities that allows him to interact and mentor aspiring minds and helping them grow.

Kevin Tan. Design Faculty.

Kevin Tan

Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty

BA (Hons) in Design Communication, Glodsmiths' College
A multi-disciplinary designer who is active in User Experience Design and Web Development for the past 5 years. Kevin always has been fond of designing and developing digital ideas, products or solutions that are modular and have strong emphasis on clean, playful and usable design.

Elwin Goh. Design Faculty.

Elwin Goh

Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty

BFA in Photography and Imaging,
Art Center College of Design
Brewed by 10 years of experience with visual art, Elwin has cultivated a knack for narrating stories with images, working with various mediums and concepts that garnered him international photographer award for both advertising and art.

Jackson Chua. Design Faculty.

Jackson Chua

Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty

Advanced Diploma in Multimedia,
Raffles Design Institute
With over 13 years of experience in the video industry, Jackson has been working in his own studio on corporate videos and campaigns with clients such as Marina Bay Sands, Dassault Systemes and NTUC Enterprises. Bringin a storytelling perspective to his work, he is known for creating a nimble and flexible creative team that helps him to bring his visions to life.

Sarah Tang. Design Faculty

Sarah Tang

Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty

BA. Honors in Graphic Design,
Loughborough University, United Kingdom
Sarah Tang is the co-founder of Sarah and Schooling and an educator based in Singapore. An ardent supporter of Singapore’s local literary scene, she founded her firm in 2013 with the goal to raise the design standards of local books. She has built a reputation in her specialisation of designing books and publications across multiple genres. Her firm focuses the nuanced intersection between text and image; creating a connection with text by evoking associations through the power of visuals. She has been featured in ArtsEquator, Esquire Singapore, Home and Décor, Malay Mail Online, The Straits Times and nominated in the Arts and Media category for ‘Great Women of Our Time 2016’ by Women’s Weekly. Sarah also has extensive teaching experience in multiple schools including LASALLE College of the Arts, MAD School, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and Orita Sinclair School of Design and Music. She teaches a wide range of students from youths in a foundational program to adults with a curiosity to learn more or with an intention to switch their career paths. She actively participates in mentorship programs and believes that having empathy is the key to being a successful designer.

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Cain Lim

Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty

Diploma in Product and Industrial Design,
Temasek Polytechnic
Trained as an industrial designer, Cain believes effective communications is multidimensional. For more than 15 years, he honed his interdisciplinary skills as a designer and communication strategist in agencies of all shapes and sizes, finding ways to help brands speak better. An advocate for creativity + social impact, he hopes to create better habits and bridge strategic business growth through sustainable practices and innovations in design. When he is not drawing grids and pushing letters, Cain loves to camp, kayak and scour the land for the best prata. He cannot wait to show you his collection of rocks from around the world and work on some awesome projects together.

Saleem Hadi

Saleem Hadi

Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty

MA (Creative Writing), Lasalle College of the Arts,
Singapore
Saleem Hadi is a hybrid visual-storyteller who uses theatre and film to shed light on national narratives and social issues. He is also a bilingual writer who writes poems and short stories. Saleem had written, directed and produced more than 20 plays and 25 short films. Saleem Hadi is currently championing a nation-wide Indian short film archival project, THEINDBOX.SG, under his non-profit organization, Singapore Indian Theatre & Film Explorers (SITFE) Ltd (www.sitfe.sg).

How to Apply

All prospective students are encouraged to contact our Recruitment Executive or authorised recruitment agents for a pre-course counseling session if they would like to enrol for a course with Orita Sinclair School of Design & Music. The purpose of this session is for us to address the needs of students as an individual, professional and as a student of our institute.

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Frequently Asked Questions

If you want to be a graphic designer, you must be able to use design and photo-editing software such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, and Corel Paintshop Pro. Aside from that, you'll need to work on your creativity and aesthetic sense. Finally, if you can manage your time effectively and meet deadlines, you'll eventually increase your value in the market.

The best graphic design course promotes continuous learning by exposing you to design fundamentals taught by professionals. The ideal course will also allow you to practise your knowledge, familiarising you with the design process.

 

You might want to enrol in our graphic design courses, including the Diploma in Design Communication and the Advanced Diploma in Design Communication. The Diploma in Design Communication teaches creative design techniques and encourages portfolio building. In comparison, Advanced Diploma in Design Communication prepares you for a career as a designer.

The time it takes to become a graphic designer varies depending on the individual's experience and education. Courses like a Diploma in Design Communication and an Advanced Diploma in Design Communication will take you 12 – 18 months to complete and prepare you to apply your knowledge in the creative industry.

The 12-month Diploma in Design Communication has been discontinued. For further information, please contact the school.