Bachelor of Design + Digital Media
Study the new Bachelor of Design + Digital Media
The aim of the Bachelor of Design and Digital Media is to provide graduates with future focused creative skills and discourses in the future of design.

Duration
3 years, full-time in Auckland
Qualification
Bachelor's Degree (Level 7) 360 credits
Costs
Domestic $7,100 + $300 Student Services Levy International $27,000 + $300 Student Services Levy Fees free applies All 2022 fees are subject to change and regulatory approval
View full fees


Bachelor of Design + Digital Media Course Outline
The programme will promote experimental, innovative critical and reflective approaches to emerging ideas and design technologies, and encourage students to develop their own independent practices and positions to fulfil the needs of the industry. It will cover user experience, web and responsive design, data visualisation, graphic design, human-centered design, design thinking, entrepreneurship, independent research and will be suitable for a broad range of user experiences in design related sectors with an intent to increase employability. Graduates will create innovative design solutions implementing the latest digital technologies, as well as their existing knowledge and experience to develop their design theory and research capabilities.
This qualification provides a pathway for graduates and students wishing to engage in higher-level studies or progress their careers in the industry.

Graduate Profile Outcomes
Graduates of the Bachelor of Design and Digital Media are connected, critical thinkers who behave sustainably, stay relevant, and are culturally capable and employable.
Graduates will lead the conversation on the future of design leadership and its impact.
Graduates will be able to:
- Apply creative curiosity, design business awareness as well as emerging and future design technologies to positively impact local and global design-related industries.
- Demonstrate understanding of the role of innovation, contemporary concepts and design technologies in an entrepreneurial business environment for commercial outcomes.
- Create design outputs through the lens of cultural perspectives, including Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Demonstrate critical thinking in the process of innovative design and awareness of the impact design innovation may have on human activity.
- Apply analytical engagement, contextualised information, and innovative storytelling skills to demonstrate professional communication skills relevant to creative industry stakeholders.
- Apply digital technology and human centred approaches to the business of design to identify global creative conventions contributing to interconnected design disciplines.
- Demonstrate responsible awareness for local and global sustainable, environmental longevity of the design lifecycle.

Key Information for Students
NZ Government key information link for students, that provides more information to support your decision making for this programme

Admission Requirements
Domestic Student Entry Requirements:
- Completed application form
- University Entrance: NCEA Level 3 or above and 20 credits at NCEA Level 2 or above, including: NCEA Level 3; 14 credits each in three approved subjects and UE Literacy (NCEA Level 2 or above; 10 credits with 5 credits each in reading and writing) and UE Numeracy (NCEA Level 1 or above; 10 credits
OR - A relevant qualification at Level 3 on the NZQF or above and the equivalent of UE Literacy and Numveracy
OR - New Zealand Certificate in Digital Media and Design (Level 4)
OR - New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design (Level 4)
OR - A New Zealand or overseas qualification assessed to be equivalent to the above by the Head of School
OR - Passes in other certificate/diploma qualifications or courses as considered appropriate by the Head of School
- Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be eligible for admission with approval from the Head of School*
- *Under delegation, the HoS will consider qualifications, programmes, and courses, domestic and international by analysing:
- the course learning outcomes, assessment and content
- the provider accreditation status
- the applicants grade report or transcript
International Student Entry Requirements:
- Completed application form
- Passport copy
- Minimum age: International students must be at least 18 years of age during their first semester of study.
- IELTS Academic overall score of 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 or equivalent
- Academic Transcripts: School or previous tertiary results
- Full-time study: International students enrolled into a degree or higher-level programme, including low residence and/or online or blended learning delivery, will be required to enrol into 60 credits per semester and meet the attendance requirements of the programme.
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Requirements:
This programme has Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) requirements, the following specifications will support you to be successful in your studies.
Required IT Specifications:
- Apple Mac OS 10.6 (Leopard) or higher, preferably 10.x Yosemite or higher
OR - Apple MacBook Air with M1 Chip (base model)
- Macbook Pro (preferred)
AND dedicated GPU (Graphics card).
Minimum Hardware requirements
- Mac - Intel processor with 64-bit support; 2 GHz or faster processor with SSE 4.2 or later
OR - MacBook Air with M1 Chip
OR - Intel® or AMD processor with 64-bit support; 2 GHz or faster processor with SSE 4.2 or later
- 16 GB RAM
- 500 GB SSD or higher hard drive with 10GB free space minimum
- Wireless capability 802.11n dual-band
- Up-to-date antivirus software
AND Recommend - A Wacom Intuos - small (USB drawing tablet needed for projects)
- May use Apple iPad Pro and pencil.
Minimum Operating System
- Windows 10 (64-bit) version 1809 or later; LTSC versions are not supported
OR - Apple macOS Mojave (version 10.14) or later
- Internet and data plan.
Not Supported:
- Chromebooks
- Windows X or Windows S OS
- Tablets (except Windows Surface Pro or iPad Pro)

Faculty

Eric Thompson
Head of School, Design InnovationEric has been a practicing designer for over 30 years. He holds a Master of Design from Massey University and has worked in tertiary education for 14 years in various roles.
Continue reading
Rebecca Steedman
Programme Leader, School of Design InnovationRebecca holds a Master of Fine Arts from Elam School of Fine Art, University of Auckland and a Graduate Diploma in Computer Publishing and Design.
Continue reading
Sheahan Huri
Lecturer, School of Design InnovationSheahan Huri is a graphic designer based in Auckland, New Zealand with nearly a decade of experience.
Continue reading
Peeti Lamwilai
Lecturer, School of Design InnovationPeeti holds a Master of Design and Bachelor of Design from Unitec Institute of Technology, a Diploma in Graphic Design from Media Design School, and a Diploma in Graphic Communication from Auckland University of Technology
Continue readingRob Mills
Lecturer, School of Design InnovationRob Mills is a design thinker, educator and creative freelancer with a Master’s degree in Digital Art from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa.
Continue reading
Clayton Elliot
Lecturer, School of Design InnovationClayton has a diploma in teaching majoring in Art and Physical Ed from the University of Canterbury.
Continue reading
Uelese Vavae
Lecturer, School of Design InnovationUelese is a graduate from Whitecliffe's Fine Arts programme and is teaching the Certificate of Digital Media + Design at our Manukau campus
Continue readingWhere could this programme take you?
Graduates of the Bachelor of Design and Digital Media are connected, critical thinkers who behave sustainably, stay relevant, and are culturally capable and employable. Graduates will lead the conversation on the future of design leadership and its impact.
Jobs related to this programme
Creative Director
Digital Designer
Graphic Designer (Digital Agency)
UI/UX Designer
Interactive Media Designer
Multimedia Designer
Web/App Designer
Experience Designer
Social Media Designer
Front-end Designer
Information Architect
Freelancer
Talk to our team

If you would like to ask us a question or request more information, please detail your enquiry using the form below. If you would like you can contact us directly on 0800 800 300, email us or use the contact us form.