Design Certificate (Postgraduate)

Qualification

Postgraduate Certificate

15 Weeks
NZQF Level 8 (60 Credits)

Intake Dates

5 November 2021

12 February 2022

2 April 2022

21 May 2022

9 July 2022

27 August 2022

Course Fees (Year 1. See fees information.)

Domestic $5,006.00 NZD

International $15,910.00 NZD

Admission Requirements

Open to applicants with over six years of professional experience in a related design discipline; OR Completed a Bachelors degree that is relevant to design.

Portfolio Requirements

Interview, portfolio, CV

Study options

Blended
Online

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Overview

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve got a few years’ experience behind you, this course will help you reach those all-important career goals. Our postgraduate design programme has been designed to encourage passionate people to develop their creative thinking, even if they don’t already have formal qualifications. Progress on to a Master of Design, or simply walk away with your completed Postgraduate Certificate in Design in 15 weeks. Apply now!

Why study postgraduate design?

You should study a postgraduate in Design if you wish to advance your Design career. The course gives you the freedom to expand your knowledge in a range of specialist subjects, develop your creative thinking skills, and progress to a Master’s Degree. All of which is done in a collaborative and inspiring creative space.

What you'll cover in this course

To complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Design, you must complete any two of the following components:

Component Name	Credits	Toggle
Design Research: Connecting Texts, Deciphering Context	30
Discover the ways different types of ‘texts’ (not just the written kind!) can be linked to understand the range of situations in which a designer operates. Research design by exploring these possible connections within the framework of a real-world project. Working in a replicated work environment on actual industry briefs will add a practical focus to your learning. You’ll gain relevant experience and build valuable professional portfolio skills and content. Level 8 PGD001 This course will be offered in Trimester 1

Interdisciplinary Design Project: Emerging Contexts	30
In this component, you’ll gain skills in the analysis of research data for application in visual research and design. Here, emerging technologies across a range of design disciplines are used to study both people and cultural phenomena (such as target audiences). In turn, these tools are utilised to inform your design decisions. Because emphasis is placed on gaining understanding through making, you’ll use audio, visual and textual elements (and more!) in your designed communication responses to a real-world project. Level 8 PGD002 This course will be offered in Trimester 1

Contemporary Design Issue: Creative Futures	30
A live brief is used to explore how design interventions can have profound and ongoing effects on the world - both intended and unintended. This component investigates the ways that designed things such as equipment, services, interfaces or environments shape environments, behaviours and attitudes. Drawing upon contemporary philosophies of technology and theories of practice, you’ll learn about the tools that are critical to design and that can richly engage with the complexity of living. You’ll gain a reflective awareness of the ways in which design can reconfigure ways to produce more considerate and sustainable products, services and approaches that benefit both people and the planet. Level 8 PGD003 This course will be offered in Trimester 2

Special Topic Project: Creative Entrepreneurship	30
Step out of your comfort zone by crossing the boundaries of your known discipline to contribute to a real-world project that requires a fresh solution. This component explores the potential of design thinking as a generator of state-of-the-art and entrepreneurial strategies, practices and designed things through innovation challenges. This requires the application of both corporate and academic research in conjunction with savvy design methodology. You’ll work both independently and in a team to respond to a client’s requirements and you’ll need to consider the effect of your choices on outcomes throughout the process. Successful results will be risk-taking tactical and effective responses to the brief provided. Level 8 PGD004 This course will be offered in Trimester 2

Special Topic Project: Design and Economies	30
Design is profoundly affected by the economy in which it is embedded. In this component you’ll take a real-world project brief and employ it to rethink assumptions about the unsustainable growth-based and unstable economies of the 21st Century. The outcome of this project is to survey critical approaches to an economy using design thinking to address such concerns as the implications of this economy for design; how more sustainable approaches to the economy might open new possibilities for design; and what role design might play in a transition to a different economic model. Level 8 PGD005 This course will be offered in Trimester 3

Interdisciplinary Design Theories: Dialogues	30
When one type of design intersects with another, the result can be a more comprehensive solution than a singular, traditional approach might provide. Working in diverse teams of designers from a range of disciplines can build ground-breaking outcomes. This component will introduce you to texts, conversations and viewpoints drawn from assorted disciplinary contexts that are of relevance to design, including philosophy, sociology, anthropology, technology, history, and a range of media. Here, you’ll work in teams to engage with ideas that are (or have been) influential in shaping ways in which designers can ideate in order to unpack solutions to interdisciplinary real-world problems. Level 8 PGD006 This course will be offered in Trimester 3

Qualifications you'll need for this course

To ensure optimal peer-to-peer learning, Media Design School determines each Postgraduate Design cohort by carefully managing the participant mix. Postgraduate Design participants typically have 6 plus years of professional experience, are recognised as having significant potential. Most applicants have a high degree of specific design knowledge. Others come from diverse backgrounds but have a strong interest in how Design can be applied to their specific field and interests.

We’re open to unusual applications and backgrounds!

International Students: If you are an international student, you'll need to prove you have sufficient English language skills in order to complete this course. We'll be looking for Academic IELTS overall score of 6.5 (minimum) with no band less than 6.0, or equivalent qualification if English is not your first language.

Portfolio Requirements

See video for entry & portfolio requirements.

BYOD Requirements

Before you begin your study with us, you will need to have a suitable device that has the functionality to run the programmes required for your course.

Follow this link to find course-specific requirements and recommendations, along with links to more information about hardware specifications. We have prepared these recommendations to help our students equip for flexible, blended learning.

Course Lecturers

Meet the Faculty

View all Faculty

Postgraduate Certificate in Design

Overview

Overview

Why study postgraduate design?

Course Outline

What you'll cover in this course

Qualification Requirements

Qualifications you'll need for this course

Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Requirements

BYOD Requirements

BYOD Requirements

Course Lecturers

Meet the Faculty

Dr. Maria Walls

Programme Leader of Masters of Design

Dr. Sarah Baker

Senior Lecturer (Master of Design) and Research Coordinator

Postgraduate Certificate in Design

Overview

Overview

Why study postgraduate design?

Course Outline

What you'll cover in this course

Qualification Requirements

Qualifications you'll need for this course

Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Requirements

Entry requirements for the Postgraduate Design Programmes at Media Design School

BYOD Requirements

BYOD Requirements

Course Lecturers

Meet the Faculty

Dr. Maria Walls

Programme Leader of Masters of Design

Dr. Sarah Baker

Senior Lecturer (Master of Design) and Research Coordinator