Design Innovation

Develop the skills, ways of thinking and ethical attitude highly valued by employers and clients through study of the cultures and contexts of design.

The phenomenal growth of technologies has transformed the practice of design. Demand has grown for designers who understand the needs of users and can apply design thinking to all kinds of systems and processes. Design Innovation students develop a portfolio of work that shows creativity, originality, and problem-solving abilities.

Roles and career pathways

Design career pathways are not only dependent on area of study

The type of design that a graduate starts out in can depend not only on the area of focus from their studies, but the skills they can evidence in their portfolio. Because of the cross-disciplinary nature of their qualification, Design Innovation graduates will be adaptable and have a range of theoretical understandings and technical skills that they could bring to a diverse range of roles.

Industrial Design graduates may be more likely to work as a product or industrial designer. Media design graduates may work in video production or web design.

Graduates can also be involved in their own entrepreneurial projects or engaged in a range of roles from early in their career.

Examples of roles include:

• animator
• communication designer
• fashion designer
• graphic designer
• industrial designer
• interaction designer
• media designer
• service designer
• usability (UX) designer

Creative roles beyond design

Graduates also move into roles that are not specifically design, but use the creative, lateral thinking, and technical skills that they bring to roles such as marketing and communications adviser, business development adviser, content developer, or learning media developer.

Postgraduate qualifications can open up roles in teaching and  research

While undertaking postgraduate study, students may tutor undergraduate Design Innovation programmes. Postgradute programmes  can lead to lecturing and research  in a tertiary learning environment, in government or commercial research institutes.

Completing a post-graduate diploma in secondary teaching (limited entry) may lead to roles teaching Technology in secondary schools. Design graduates can also complete a postgraduate diploma in primary school teaching (limited entry) and bring their creativity and organisational skills to working with younger students.

Graduate career stories

Where Design graduates work

Design graduates can work in consultancies, government, the not-for-profit sector, and companies across all industries such as manufacturing, architecture, engineering, agriculture, retail, or film. Recent Design graduates have worked for organisations such as:

• A44  Games
• 880 Productions
• ACC
• Catalyst IT
• Department of Internal  Affairs—Te Tari  Taiwhenua
• Fast Enterprises
• Fisher & Paykel
• Floating Rock
• Gibson Group
• New Zealand Intellectual  Property Office (IPONZ)
• Ocean Design
• PWC
• Te Papa
• Trade Me
• Wētā FX
• Xero

Build relevant skills and experience

Volunteering or part-time work can help you gain experience designing in response to real-world problems, for example by helping a non-profit organisation set up a website.

Making the most of on-campus guest lectures, exhibitions, and events, especially where prospective employers are presenting, can be a good way to find out about future work possibilities.

Make career connections

If you are a Design student or newly graduated practising designer, you can join the Designers Institute of NZ for networking, events, and professional development opportunities. Design Assembly also provides resources, information, and workshops for visual designers.

STUDiO, the Design and Architecture student association, holds regular social events such as talks by invited lecturers, design competitions, and workshops.