Cinematic Design

Undergraduate | 2026

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Mode icon
Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
MDIA 1010
Course ID icon
Course ID
201173
Campus icon
Campus
Magill, Adelaide City Campus West
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
School of Art and Design
Course coordinator
Course coordinator
Michael Bentham
Course level icon
Course level
1
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
Study abroad and student exchange icon
Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes

Course overview

To introduce students to the practical and theoretical knowledge of Cinematic Design, and to develop student skills in the application of this knowledge for establishing the relationship between design principles and the process of designing for film, animation, and visual effects. Students will develop skills to identify, evaluate, construct, and apply key principles of cinematic design in contemporary screen production. Students will focus on the concept of ‘design language’, using metaphors of 'grammar' and 'vocabulary' taken from natural language that enrich the process of designing for film, animation, visual effects, and illustration, and apply these skills in practice using a variety of visual effects and computer graphics packages.

  • Introduction To Design Language
  • Visual Cinematic Design
  • Thematic Cinematic Design

Course learning outcomes

  • apply key concepts and principles in cinematic design
  • apply key concepts and principles in grammatical design
  • observe, analyse and adapt existing design languages to generate new creations
  • communicate ideas both visually and textually for cinematic media
  • work independently and collaboratively to ideate cinematic design concepts

Availability

Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 27/03/2026
Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 13/03/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 10/04/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 08/05/2026

Class details

Magill

Class number
Class number 30059
Section
Section LE01
Size
Size 135
Available
Available 134
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
- Magill ,
Class number
Class number 29981
Section
Section SE01
Size
Size 28
Available
Available 27
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
26 Feb - 16 Apr Thursday 11:10am - 2pm Magill Building CB, CB1-01
7 May - 4 Jun Thursday 11:10am - 2pm Magill Building CB, CB1-01
Class number
Class number 24440
Section
Section SE02
Size
Size 28
Available
Available 28
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
23 Feb - 13 Apr Monday 2:10pm - 5pm Magill Building CB, CB1-01
4 May - 1 Jun Monday 2:10pm - 5pm Magill Building CB, CB1-01
Class number
Class number 24439
Section
Section SE03
Size
Size 28
Available
Available 28
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
25 Feb - 15 Apr Wednesday 11:10am - 2pm Magill Building CB, CB1-01
6 May - 3 Jun Wednesday 11:10am - 2pm Magill Building CB, CB1-01
Class number
Class number 24438
Section
Section SE04
Size
Size 28
Available
Available 28
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
24 Feb - 14 Apr Tuesday 2:10pm - 5pm Magill Building CB, CB1-01
5 May - 2 Jun Tuesday 2:10pm - 5pm Magill Building CB, CB1-01
Class number
Class number 24437
Section
Section SE05
Size
Size 28
Available
Available 28
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
24 Feb - 14 Apr Tuesday 11:10am - 2pm Magill Building CB, CB1-01
5 May - 2 Jun Tuesday 11:10am - 2pm Magill Building CB, CB1-01

Adelaide City Campus West

Class number
Class number 30058
Section
Section LE01
Size
Size 135
Available
Available 135
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
- Adelaide City Campus West ,
Class number
Class number 24111
Section
Section SE01
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 20
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
27 Feb - 17 Apr Friday 2:10pm - 5pm Adelaide City Campus West Barbara Hanrahan, BH4-19
8 May - 5 Jun Friday 2:10pm - 5pm Adelaide City Campus West Barbara Hanrahan, BH4-19
Class number
Class number 23118
Section
Section SE03
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 20
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
26 Feb - 16 Apr Thursday 2:10pm - 5pm Adelaide City Campus West Barbara Hanrahan, BH4-19
7 May - 4 Jun Thursday 2:10pm - 5pm Adelaide City Campus West Barbara Hanrahan, BH4-19
Class number
Class number 23117
Section
Section SE04
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 20
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
23 Feb - 13 Apr Monday 11:10am - 2pm Adelaide City Campus West Barbara Hanrahan, BH4-19
4 May - 1 Jun Monday 11:10am - 2pm Adelaide City Campus West Barbara Hanrahan, BH4-19

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A

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The Student Contribution amount displayed below is for students commencing a new program from 2021 onwards. If you are continuing in a program you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, or are commencing an Honours degree relating to an undergraduate degree you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, you may be charged a different Student Contribution amount from the amount displayed below. Please check the Student Contribution bands for continuing students here. If you are an international student, or a domestic student studying in a full fee paying place, and are continuing study that you commenced in 2025 or earlier, your fees will be available here before enrolments open for 2026.