Design –
Aspire to be a leader in the vital and growing fields of design. Learn to see the nuances of good design and become a creative virtuoso—gaining the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful designer.
The Bachelor of Design Innovation (BDI) will prepare you to work as a designer in an exciting variety of design-based professions. Find out about the areas of design you can major in for your undergraduate degree or study at postgraduate level.
Gain the skills to join the industry
A game designer develops the experience, rules, narrative and technology of a video game. You’ll create compelling and immersive experiences by deciding what the players interact and engage with, and how they do it.
Your study will cover skills ranging from prototyping interactions to narrative design—from project management, to testing and marketing.
Game Design is a multidisciplinary subject suitable for people with a range of skills and attributes. Whether you are interested in storytelling or technology, into software or more of an artist—if you’re passionate about games you could find yourself at home in Game Design.
What you’ll learn
If you study Game Design, you will learn to design video games with a multidisciplinary approach. You’ll learn:
- gaming fundamentals
- art and animation
- coding, interaction design, new technologies, and software
- game history
- storytelling.
How you’ll study
Your learning will mostly take place in the studio. You’ll also take part in lectures, workshops, and group work.
While honing your craft with the latest software and digital equipment, you’ll work closely with lecturers and tutors through one-on-one mentorship and critique sessions.
In your first year
During your first year, you’ll step back from being a gamer to look at games as a creator and understand how games are developed.We’ll introduce you to game design, programming, and the coding concepts that underpin game development.
In your second and third years
In your second and third years, you’ll participate in industry-driven game jams with students from the Computer Graphics and Games programme.Computer Graphics and Games students develop the tools to build games—whereas you’ll learn to use the tools that already exist.
You’ll work on a major ‘capstone’ project to develop and build a large-scale video game.
Collaboration is key
To be successful in the gaming industry it’s important to not only have the technical and visual skills, but also know how to collaborate in multidisciplinary teams.You can expect to work on projects in collaborative groups, preparing you for a career as a professional game designer.
Learning how to work in teams and work well with others is a key skill you will learn to thrive working in game design.
Experience Game Design
Learn more about the new Game Design major and the opportunities that games offer.
The DNA of video games is in almost all interactive digital media. The growing demand for game development skills is opening up new opportunities in the gaming industry and beyond.
Tuakana Metuarau
Discipline lead and lecturer in Game Design
Build your degree
You can choose Game Design as the major or minor as part of the Bachelor of Design Innovation (BDI).
Selecting your major
In your first year you'll study across all BDI major subjects. You’ll investigate a broad range of essential design ideas, principles, histories, theories, and practices, so you're able to challenge traditional ideas about design.You’ll then request your major for your second year. The number of places in the second year of the Game Design major is limited—entry is based on your academic performance.
Study pathways
You’ll start with one core Bachelor of Design Innovation course, two required Game Design courses, and a selection of electives to build a solid foundation in design in your first year. Entry into the second year of the Game Design major is competitive.
In your second and third years, you’ll participate in industry-driven game jams alongside students from the Computer Graphics and Games programme and work on a major ‘capstone’ project to develop and build a large-scale video game.
Game Design can also be studied as a minor subject within the Bachelor of Design Innovation.
The Bachelor of Design Innovation, majoring in Game Design, and Graduate Diploma of Design Innovation, specialising in Game Design, are both pathways to the Master of Design Technology.
Undergraduate degree
Bachelor of Design Innovation – BDI
- Duration 3 years
- Complete 360 points
- Location Te Aro, Wellington
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Next starting date 23 Feb 2026 (+ -2 more) - Entry University Entrance or alternative admission type.
Graduate qualification
Graduate Diploma in Design Innovation – GDipDI
- Duration 2 trimesters
- Complete 120 points
- Location Te Aro, Wellington
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Next starting date 23 Feb 2026 (+ -2 more) - Entry Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related subject area.
Future career options
Gaming is a growing industry. It’s now worth more than the film and music industries combined, with opportunity for expansion here in Aotearoa.
Video games themselves have also become varied—traditional mainstream games now stand alongside the experimental and independent.
Our graduates go on to work at companies like Wēta Digital, PikPok, and Fingertapps.
After your study you might work as a:
- game designer
- game developer
- UI (user interaction) designer
- graphic designer
- app designer
- visual effects artist
- narrative designer
- level designer.
Postgraduate programme
Master of Design Technology – MDT
- Duration 3 trimesters
- Complete 180 points
- Location Miramar Creative Centre, 133 Park Road, Wellington
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Next starting date 23 Feb 2026 (+ -2 more) - Entry Appropriate Bachelor’s degree with at least a B average, portfolio or showreel proving aptitude with a 3D computer graphics application.
Postgraduate study—Deep dive into Game Design
Continue learning about the practice of game design and development with a postgraduate qualification focused on Game Design.
Define and research your own Game Design topic, exploring what interests you in one of our Master’s programs. Further explore the cultural elements of Video Games through a thesis, explore Video Game Narrative, or further explore your own game development and design in a particular area.
Postgraduate study allows you to further explore what best suits you—giving you a better understanding of Game Design and further refining your individual practice.
Choose your study path
There is no one defined pathway to study Game Design as a postgraduate qualification.
Based on your previous study or experience, you can choose a postgraduate study option that meets your needs. You might focus on Game Design with a Graduate Diploma, a Master’s degree, or a PhD.
Graduate Diploma in Design Innovation
A Graduate Diploma in Design Innovation (GDipDI) allows you to study a new area, add depth to your previous degree, or prepare for Master's study. You can choose to specialise in Game Design. This will prepare students to become well rounded graduates and leaders within the industry.Master of Design Technology
The Master of Design Technology (MDT) is a common pathway for Game Design students to continue their study. It builds on your digital media skills from an undergraduate degree in design. It looks at storytelling and prepares you for highly technical design professions such as game design, visual effects (VFX), exhibition design, and multimedia design.Your intensive one year of study includes coursework and a capstone project where you’ll create a full animated short film.
Master of Design
The Master of Design (MDes) is a research-based Master’s that allows you to choose your own area of interest. You could choose to focus this Master’s on a research area within Game Design.If you are already working in the industry and are looking to deepen your practice, the Master of Design (MDes) is a good fit for you.
Master of Design Innovation
The Master of Design Innovation (MDI) might suit you if you’re coming straight from the Bachelor’s of Design Innovation.Through a combination of coursework and supervised research, you’ll explore the topic in design that you’re most passionate about and develop a research portfolio.
PhD
Produce an original body of research that expands the design discipline. Your work will be largely independently driven, with two supervisors available to advise you. Typically the PhD is studied on-site, but in suitable cases it may be studied by distance. Learn more about PhD design research areas.Postgraduate study options
Find out about this subject at postgraduate level and what your qualification options are.
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