Duration
Full-time: 3 years
Next start date
2026 Semester One – 2 March
2027 Semester One – 1 March
Available locations
City
Points
360
Programme type
Undergraduate

Programme overview

The world is changing, almost faster than we can keep up with. While we can’t accurately imagine future realities, we can develop skills that will help us adapt to them.

The Bachelor of Design uses a combination of case studies and real-world project briefs to enable your experimentation in making and prototyping. You will investigate the potential practical, social, political and environmental impacts of different design outcomes, using both digital and material technologies. Your learning will be supported by research academics and specialists drawn from industries relevant to contemporary design.

You can also study the BDes alongside another discipline as part of a conjoint degree, which means you can take two undergraduate programmes at the same time. You can do a conjoint with Arts, Commerce, Engineering (Honours), or Science.

Programme structure

In your first year of study, you’ll be introduced to design methods, processes and rationale. You will also investigate design as a driver and responder to social needs in both contemporary and historic contexts.

Throughout your degree, you will build a personalised study plan around your Stage II compulsory courses, selecting your electives from four design themes:

  • Design and Local Community Practices
  • Design and Global Challenges
  • Design and Business
  • Design and Emerging Technologies

You can choose to focus on one or two design themes, or you can mix and match courses to suit your experience and developing interests.

In your final year, you will undertake a capstone design research project, working from the initial discovery phase right through to testing and implementation. This will be supported by a course aimed at advancing your understanding of design research methodologies. You will document your creative process in your project report.

The broad structure of the programme is:

  • Seven core courses: DESIGN 100, 101, 200, 201, 300, 303, 304 (165 points)
  • Nine elective courses from your chosen design themes: DESIGN 210-243 (135 points)
  • One Waipapa Taumata Rau course (15 points)
  • One General Education course (15 points)
  • Two additional elective courses from this degree or other bachelors degrees (30 points)

Learn more about Design courses.

Most students need to take one General Education course.

Students should also be aware of the University’s Academic English Language Requirement.

For all official programme information, including regulations about entry, enrolment, fees, examinations, and requirements for degrees, diplomas and certificates, see the University Calendar.

Sample programme structure

Year 1 120 points

  • Code:
    DESIGN 100
    Name:
    Design Methods and Processes 1
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    30 pts
  • Code:
    DESIGN 101
    Name:
    Design Theory and Fundamentals
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Elective taught course
    Type:
    Elective taught courses
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Elective taught course
    Type:
    Elective taught courses
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Elective taught course
    Type:
    Elective taught courses
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Code:
    WTRENG 100
    Name:
    Waipapa Taumata Rau
    Type:
    Core course
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    General Education course
    Type:
    General Education course
    Points:
    15 pts

Year 2 120 points

  • Code:
    Design 200
    Name:
    Design Methods and Processes 2
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    30 pts
  • Code:
    Design 201
    Name:
    Creative Communities
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Elective taught course
    Type:
    Elective taught courses
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Elective taught course
    Type:
    Elective taught courses
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Elective taught course
    Type:
    Elective taught courses
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Elective taught course
    Type:
    Elective taught courses
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Elective taught course
    Type:
    Elective taught courses
    Points:
    15 pts

Year 3 120 points

  • Code:
    DESIGN 300
    Name:
    Design Research Methodologies
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Code:
    DESIGN 303
    Name:
    Design Research Practice
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Code:
    DESIGN 304
    Name:
    Advanced Design Methods Capstone
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    45 pts
  • Name:
    Elective taught course
    Type:
    Elective taught courses
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Elective taught course
    Type:
    Elective taught courses
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Elective taught course
    Type:
    Elective taught courses
    Points:
    15 pts

Where could this programme take you?

Undergraduate study in Design will prepare you to be proactive in a world of expanding job futures and ways of working. Companies will take advantage of emerging market potentials at an early stage through their comfort with disruptive technologies and the application of varied creative approaches to solve problems and identify opportunities. People who are flexible, adaptable and able to explore more than one way of doing things will be highly sought after for business growth. Recently, many new roles have emerged for designers. It’s an exciting time to enter this rapidly expanding field. As well as being able to launch your own entrepreneurial exploits, you’ll be suited to existing organisations integrating contemporary design into their business practices.

Jobs related to this programme

  • Design strategist
  • Experience designer
  • Innovation manager
  • Interface designer
  • Product designer
  • Service designer
  • Interaction designer
  • Information designer

Further study options

See all study options

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