New Zealand Diploma in Graphic Design

Level 5

Graphic Design is a high demand career!

Our Graphic Design programme is brand new and will give you the skills you need to begin your career in graphic design. It combines design thinking, creative processes, problem solving and technical skills so you’ll reach a professional industry standard, while learning in a design studio environment.

Course Content

Design Studio 1: some of the topics covered in this module include design thinking, idea generation, design process, meeting brief requirements, page layout and typographic conventions, design software and document design.

Design Studio 2: building on the previous module, you will learn about the anatomy of type, common type classifications, expressive digital type and typographic conventions. You will expand on layout principles, and design elements to let you create more complex documents.

Design Studio 3: this module introduces you to icon and logo design, corporate identity, and style guides. You will explore time-based storytelling using graphic design principles in a motion design context.

Web Design Studio: here you will learn basic web design skills including creation of a simple responsive website and commercial web templates. You will learn the essentials of HTML/5 and CSS/3.

Design Workshop: in this module you will be introduced to the history of type and graphic design with a focus on the 20th century. You will explore the ways in which meaning is created, communicated and received through a basic understanding of visual signs and symbols.

Creative Workshop: you will learn basic drawing techniques including line, shape and volume, composition, texture and tone, and concept development through illustration. Also covered are hand rendered design techniques and processes including lettering, print making, and book binding.

Digital Imaging Workshop: in this module you will learn about a range of photography and digital editing techniques that will help to support your graphic design skills including manipulation software, basic digital SLR camera function and studio lighting principles.

Career Opportunities 

Graduates will have the opportunity to market themselves as a freelance designer/illustrator or seek employment in the following areas:

  • Advertising and marketing agencies
  • Design studios
  • In-house company design departments
  • Print companies
  • Publishing
  • Graphic design related industries 
2024 Intake Dates

Next intake date to be confirmed shortly, please contact us for more information.

Duration

42 weeks including 6 weeks of holiday.

Entry Requirements

Email us for entry requirements.

Course Costs

  • Tuition fees: $20,500.00
  • Course related costs: $1,000.00

Qualifications Awarded

New Zealand Certificate in Graphic Design - Level 5