Media and Communication 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
Media and Communication Design at Auckland Royal Academy develops creative practitioners capable of designing across the full spectrum of contemporary media — from digital interfaces and brand identities to broadcast graphics and interactive experiences. The programme integrates visual communication design with media production skills, strategic communication thinking, and an understanding of user experience, preparing graduates for careers that bridge design craft and media industry practice.
Studio-based projects develop your skills in motion graphics, UI design, brand identity, editorial design, and social content creation, with each project informed by real communication objectives and audience insights. Partnerships with Auckland media companies, advertising agencies, and in-house creative teams provide authentic professional briefs, and an industry placement component in the final year provides direct career-building experience in a professional creative environment.
Career Opportunities
Media and Communication Design graduates work as graphic designers, UX/UI designers, motion graphics artists, brand designers, digital content creators, and creative directors in media organisations, advertising agencies, technology companies, and cultural institutions. The combination of design craft and media industry knowledge makes graduates particularly versatile in an environment where the boundaries between design, media, and technology continue to converge.
Program Learning Outcomes
Design and produce media communication outputs — including digital interfaces, motion graphics, brand identities, and social content — that demonstrate visual craft, conceptual coherence, and effective audience engagement across multiple platforms.
Apply user experience design principles, audience research methods, and information architecture to create digital communication products that are accessible, intuitive, and responsive to the needs of diverse users.
Evaluate media and communication design work against professional, ethical, and cultural standards, applying an understanding of New Zealand's media landscape, bicultural design obligations, and international design best practice.
Programme
| Semester 1 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Media Design | 4 | MDIA 101 |
| Foundations & Theory | 4 | MDIA 110 |
| Research Methods | 3 | MDIA 120 |
| Semester 2 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Media Design I | 4 | MDIA 201 |
| Professional Practice | 3 | MDIA 210 |
| Industry Context NZ | 4 | MDIA 220 |
| Semester 3 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Media Design II | 4 | MDIA 301 |
| Critical Perspectives | 3 | MDIA 310 |
| Ethics & Standards | 3 | MDIA 320 |
| Semester 4 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Media Design | 4 | MDIA 401 |
| Specialisation Elective | 3 | MDIA 410 |
| Media Design Capstone Project | 4 | MDIA 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.