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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

7–10Visual and Motion Design 7–10 Syllabus (2025)

Implementation from 2028
Expand for detailed implementation advice.

Content

Stage 5

Design practice: design forms

The materials, equipment and processes outlined in the visual design and motion design forms are not a list of essential content.

Teachers select design materials, equipment and processes relevant to the design form being taught. Students with disability may require adjustments to access or engage with design forms.

Visual design forms: Graphic and typographic design
  • Elements and compositional design principles, including line, shape, space, colour, balance, contrast, proximity, alignment and visual hierarchy

  • User-centred and inclusive design principles, such as high contrast colours, clear fonts and scalable vector graphics

  • Concept design using communication strategies, such as thumbnails, sketches and mock-ups

  • Graphic, illustrative, photographic and background design elements, such as digital or sketching techniques

  • Typography and font design techniques, such as kerning, tracking and leading

  • Printmaking, such as textiles, screen, block, digital and transfer

  • Street art and design techniques, such as stencilling, paste-ups, graffiti and digital projections

  • Branding design, such as typography, colour, symbols and layout to communicate ideas

  • Patterns and motifs, including use of digital or sketching techniques and processes

  • Cleaning, tracing and preparing graphic and typographic works for reproduction or presentation, including file formats, resolution, colour settings and physical display methods

  • Arrangement and presentation of graphic and typographic design artworks, such as illustrations, a graphic novel, branding materials and character(s) for an intended audience

Visual design forms: 3D design and the built environment
  • Elements and 3D design principles, such as form and function, texture, space, proportion, symmetry, scale, balance

  • User-centred and inclusive design principles, such as tactile accessibility, ergonomic design circulation paths and spatial layouts

  • Concept design using communication strategies, such as sketches or digital drawings to explore structure, spatial relationships, scale and intended function

  • Material exploration, including surface, texture, structure and form

  • Construction techniques, such as forming, joining, folding, sculpting, casting, moulding or carving

  • Clay types, forming methods and techniques, such as pinching, coiling, slab-building, surface treatments, glazing and firing

  • Spatial experiences or built environments, considering site or sets, user needs, accessibility technology and sustainability

  • Utilitarian products, small-scale objects, wearables or props, considering sustainable and inclusive design principles

  • 3D digital modelling techniques and file preparation, including visualisation, form development, rigging, mesh editing, texturing, rendering, scaling, exporting and formatting

  • Arrangement and presentation of 3D design works, considering scale, volume, spatial layout, materials and audience interaction

Motion design forms: Animation and kinetic design
  • Elements and time-based design principles, such as line, movement, rhythm, scale, timing, spacing, easing, continuity and flow

  • User-centred and inclusive design principles, such as diverse storytelling, clear pacing, closed captions and subtitles

  • Concept design using communication strategies, such as narrative and storyboards incorporating flow, key scenes and actions

  • Animation principles, such as squash and stretch, anticipation, follow-through and timing

  • Traditional 2D animation design techniques, such as flipbooks, cel animation, drawn sketches frame-by-frame sequences, tracing, layering, colouring, cut-outs and pop-ups, shadow puppetry, hand-rendered characters and backgrounds

  • 2D animation techniques, such as vector-based animation, stop-motion, title sequencing, digital layering, onion-skinning, sound design and timeline-based editing using digital drawing tools, animation software and image capturing equipment

  • Kinetic design techniques, such as mechanical movement, rotation, pulleys, levers, balance-based motion, wind or magnet-driven components

  • File formats and export settings for animation, considering resolution, compression and playback requirements across devices

  • Arrangement and presentation of animated and kinetic design works for screening, projection or interactive display

Motion design forms: Emerging design
  • Elements and emerging design principles, such as space, motion, interaction, layering, contrast, rhythm, balance and user responsiveness

  • User-centred and inclusive design principles, such as intuitive navigation or audio feedback

  • Concept design using communication strategies, such as blending traditional and digital media

  • Multisensory design concepts incorporating visual, auditory and tactile elements to create time-based audience experiences

  • Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and/or mixed reality (MR) experiences, generative tools, blending physical and digital spaces through motion, interaction and spatial design

  • Storytelling experiences and reimagined narratives presented through hybrid and interactive forms

  • Emerging design artworks using hybrid, interactive or emerging forms, multisensory experiences and sustainable design practices

  • Digital tools and techniques used for sequencing and interaction design, such as nonlinear structures, time-based navigation and audience-responsive experiences

  • File formats, compatibility and display tools for emerging motion-based works, considering resolution, interactivity and accessibility

  • Design artworks, installations and exhibitions incorporating interactive elements, such as lighting, audio and motion

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