Design
You’ll develop the cultural awareness and critical thinking skills you need to analyze and produce a broad range of discourse in a full spectrum of careers — and to make a difference in whatever you do.
- 2 Years / Onsite
- Intakes: Jan, Apr, Jun, Oct
Overview
Design at Auckland Royal Academy cultivates creative practitioners who combine conceptual thinking with technical mastery to solve visual, spatial, and interactive communication challenges. The programme spans graphic design, interaction design, branding, and environmental design, with a curriculum that responds to the needs of New Zealand's creative industries and prepares graduates to work effectively in design studios, in-house creative teams, and independent practice.
Studio culture drives the programme — you will work on briefs from real clients, exhibit your work publicly, and develop a professional portfolio under the mentorship of practising designers and visiting industry critics. Auckland's position as a hub of Pacific design culture and Australasian commercial creative industry provides a rich context for design study, with field trips, industry placements, and competitions offering exposure to professional practice from early in the programme.
Career Opportunities
Design graduates from Auckland Royal Academy pursue careers as graphic designers, UX/UI designers, brand strategists, packaging designers, exhibition designers, and creative directors in agencies, corporations, and cultural institutions. The programme's emphasis on both conceptual rigour and technical excellence prepares graduates for the full spectrum of professional design practice in New Zealand and internationally.
Program Learning Outcomes
Develop and execute design solutions across print, digital, and environmental media that demonstrate conceptual originality, visual craft, and responsiveness to brief, audience, and cultural context.
Apply typographic principles, colour theory, grid systems, and information hierarchy to create design work that communicates with clarity, beauty, and purpose across diverse communication platforms.
Evaluate design work through critique and reflective practice, applying professional and ethical standards to assess the quality, cultural impact, and commercial effectiveness of design solutions in the New Zealand creative industry context.
Programme
| Semester 1 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Design | 4 | DSGN 101 |
| Foundations & Theory | 4 | DSGN 110 |
| Research Methods | 3 | DSGN 120 |
| Semester 2 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Design I | 4 | DSGN 201 |
| Professional Practice | 3 | DSGN 210 |
| Industry Context NZ | 4 | DSGN 220 |
| Semester 3 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Design II | 4 | DSGN 301 |
| Critical Perspectives | 3 | DSGN 310 |
| Ethics & Standards | 3 | DSGN 320 |
| Semester 4 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Design | 4 | DSGN 401 |
| Specialisation Elective | 3 | DSGN 410 |
| Design Capstone Project | 4 | DSGN 490 |
| Total for the entire period of study | 11 |
Contact us
3/60 Federal Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
How to Apply?
- You Apply
Tell us a little about yourself and we’ll help with the rest. Our convenient online application tool only takes 10 minutes to complete.
- We Connect
After you submit your application, an admissions representative will contact you and will help you to complete the process.
- You Get Ready
Once you’ve completed your application and connected with an admissions representative, you’re ready to create your schedule.