Overview
Develop the skills you need to use current digital technology to express yourself and impress future clients.
You’ll develop your understanding of many aspects of digital design, including design principles, design elements, animation, photography, HTML design elements, creating an engaging user interface experience, developing effective content, digital citizenship, symbols, motif, and mark-making.
You’ll use a variety of tools and technologies, including the Adobe suite, to explore your creative interests, build a portfolio, and add to your digital toolkit as you design and create digital media with the ‘wow’ factor.
Who is this for?
If you’re passionate about design, media, and/or art and want to gain foundational digital media and design skills for work or further study, this may be the programme for you!
Our qualifications are developed in collaboration with industry, ensuring that you will graduate with practical skills that you can use in the world of work.
Become a problem-solver
This programme will help you develop your problem-solving skills in a digital media and design context. You’ll learn how to select and use tools and design principles to turn design problems into design solutions.
Use project briefs to apply and manage a design process
You’ll learn how to apply and manage the design process, paying attention to key concerns such as safe work practice.
Apply fundamental skills in digital media and design to project briefs
You’ll learn how to use a range of digital tools as you follow the design process and turn project briefs into designs, gaining practical experience along the way.
Define your own digital media and design work in a range of contexts…
…and gain experiences working collaboratively in a team and critiquing your own work and the work of others.
Learn how to be a good digital citizen and consider your career or study pathway in the digital media and design industry.
Learn the fundamentals of digital citizenship in New Zealand’s unique context, including ethical and legal responsibilities regarding intellectual property, the Copyright Act, the Privacy Act, and honouring the Treaty of Waitangi. Learn about and reflect on your future in the digital media and design industry.
Explore Adobe Creative Cloud
Access Adobe Creative Cloud at no extra cost. You will receive access to the world’s best creative apps and services so you can make anything you can imagine, wherever you’re inspired.
Entry Requirements
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to understand follow, and respond to instructions given in English.
- be physically able to complete the programme specific outcomes
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level.
- be physically able to complete the programme-specific outcomes.
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level.
- be physically able to complete the programme-specific outcomes.
Applicants for whom English is not a first language must have an IELTS score of 5 with no band score lower than 5; or an accepted international equivalence.
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level.
- be physically able to complete the programme-specific outcomes.
Applicants for whom English is not a first language must have an IELTS score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5; or an accepted international equivalence.
Academic Requirements
10 NCEA Level 1 literacy credits Or New Zealand Certificate in Creativity (Level 4) or equivalent
Alternative Requirements
Applicants who are unable to evidence that they meet Academic Entry Requirements, but who can demonstrate acquired skills for tertiary study gained through study, work and/or life experience, may be approved for alternative entry.
Additional Requirements
Portfolio: Applicants may be required to submit a portfolio demonstrating their digital media/design work.
Interview: Applicants may be required to attend an interview.
Language
If English is not your first language, you may be required to show that your English language skills meet IELTS 5.5 Academic (no lower than 5.0 in any subtest) or English Proficiency Outcomes Chart equivalent.
If you have no evidence of your English language skills and are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, contact us for an assessment.
Students with NCEA Level 3 University Entrance are not required to provide evidence of English Language Skills.
Intakes & Applications
Dates & Bookings
Experience
Even if you don’t have the necessary qualifications, you may still be approved for entry if you can show you have the literacy and numeracy skills needed for tertiary study through other study, work and/or life experience. Please contact us for more information.
Youth Guarantee Fund*
If you are aged 16 to 24, you could study for FREE as part of the government's Youth Guarantee fund. To qualify for the Youth Guarantee fund, you must meet the following criteria:
- Complete an application for a course that is covered by the Youth Guarantee fund.
- Be a NZ citizen or permanent resident.
- Be 16 to 24 years old at the time the course starts. Learners who are 15 years old and hold Ministry approved early leaving exemption from their school may also be eligible. This exemption must be in place before the course starts.
Priority places will be given to students who:
- have not yet achieved NCEA Level 1 or NCEA Level 2; or
- have completed a Level 1 or Level 2 qualification through a Youth Guarantee provision programme.
All free study is subject to funding confirmation. Proof of residency status is required. Programme entry criteria may apply. Eligibility for student allowances or student loans may vary. Contact Studylink for more information.
All fees are in New Zealand Dollars and are approximate only - includes GST but excludes the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF) levy. Unless otherwise stated, the fees shown are for domestic students only. For programmes longer than one academic year in duration, the fees quoted are for the first year. Final study costs depends on a number of factors including the courses you select to study.
Courses and programmes may be cancelled, postponed or have their content or configuration changed from time to time (including during the academic year) at the discretion of NorthTec. See our full Terms and conditions.
Additional Information
Software Requirements:
Learners will use Adobe’s Creative Cloud software suite (at no extra cost) whilst studying this programme of study. Please ensure you meet the Adobe system requirements for the software.
Materials Required:
- Drawing supplies i.e pads, pencils, paints
- Access to a late model cellphone for video and photography
- Access to a DSLR Camera is recommended
- Access to a drawing tablet and pen. We recommend the brand Wacom
About Te Pūkenga
NorthTec is part of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (Te Pūkenga). From 1 October 2022, all references to NorthTec or Northland Polytechnic on this website (and any documentation linked through this website) need to be read as references to Te Pūkenga and its NorthTec business division.
Te Pūkenga brings the Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) and the arranging training activities of certain Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) together to create a national network. This will give learners more choices and flexibility in what, where, and how they learn.
Existing NorthTec ākonga (learners) will be enrolled with Te Pūkenga automatically in the same qualification and will continue to learn in the same way, in the same place, with the same people.
Learners should note that all programmes offered across Te Pūkenga are under review to ensure they are portable, consistent and aligned with the needs of industry and may be changed. Where there are changes to programmes that you have applied to enrol in, you will be notified of these changes.
