Graduate Diploma in Design Innovation

Summary

Study Design at an advanced level to upgrade your skills and expand your Bachelor's degree.

Dive deeper into design

Complete a short qualification to study a new area of design, add depth to your previous study, prepare for a Master’s, or learn the latest in the industry to develop your career.

Study 120 points of undergraduate courses at 200 and 300 level from the Bachelor of Design Innovation (BDI). You can choose your courses to tailor your programme of study to your interests and goals.

You can apply for the GDipDI at any time and start in any trimester.

The Graduate Diploma in Design Innovation (GDipDI) could suit you if you:

• have an undergraduate degree in design or a related field and want to explore a new discipline and diversify your skills
• want to meet the entry requirements for a design Master’s—after completing a BDI or another related degree such as fine arts
• have design industry experience and want a short qualification to upskill or change career
• want to refresh your design skills—exploring new tools and technologies, and engaging in critical design discourse
• aren’t ready to study a Master’s but want to study incrementally towards one.

Build your diploma

You can choose to specialise in one of the following areas or do an interdisciplinary diploma.

• Animation and Visual Effects—Pakiwaituhi me ngā Mariko Ataata

Bring stories to life on screen through animation, VFX, and virtual reality by blending creativity with technology.

• Communication Design—Hoahoa ā-Whakakōrero

Bring a fresh design perspective to surfaces, screens, and physical and virtual spaces, exploring topics like graphic design, typography, branding, illustration, and visual narrative.

• Design for Social Innovation—Hoahoa mō te Auahatanga ā-Papori

Define the pressing issues for people and the planet today—and design products, systems, or services to solve them.

• Fashion Design Technology—Hangarau Hoahoa ā-Kākahu

Learn skills in emerging technologies to create fashion designs that solve challenges and improve lives.

• Game Design—Hoahoa ā-Kēmu

Develop the design-thinking and professional studio skills you need to create compelling games and work in creative industries.

• Industrial Design—Hoahoa ā-Ahumahi

Design and develop the physical objects or products that shape the world and our interactions.

• Interaction Design—Hoahoa ā-Pāhekoheko

Create digital systems and interfaces that improve aspects of human life.

• Media Design—Hoahoa ā-Arapāho

Explore the possibilities of emerging technologies before they enter the mainstream and consider how we can harness them.

Part-time study options

You can choose to complete the 120 points part-time over 1.5 to 2 years to allow flexibility with other work or personal commitments.

Get the postgraduate Architecture and Design Innovation handbook

Find out more about your study options. Fill in a form to download our Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation handbook.

Download the handbook

Scholarships

You can look for scholarships based on your level of study, subject area, and background.

International scholarships

Many scholarships are available for international students at Victoria University of Wellington. They can help with tuition fees and with accommodation costs.

Support for students

Victoria University of Wellington is a welcoming place with great student support. There are all sorts of resources available to help you make the best of your time at university.

Financial support

You can get support to stay on top of your finances by downloading our money management resources or by meeting with one of our student finance advisers.

We can show you how to manage your student loan or allowance, and help you sort out your budget. For students facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for support from the Hardship Fund. Depending on your situation, you might also be able to get government or community support. Talk to a student finance adviser Financing your study

Work opportunities Work as a research assistant

You may be able to work as a research assistant while you study. These are fixed-term, short contracts where you assist an academic on a specific research project.

Find out more about current research in the School of Design. Research groups

Work as a tutor

The School of Design Innovation has a number of vacancies for marking, teaching assistant and tutoring roles for undergraduate core courses. The School looks for current postgraduate students, and senior undergraduate students with good passes in appropriate 200-level or 300-level courses. Contact the School to show your interest.

Industry connections

The School of Design Innovation has indu...