Design differently for a changing world
Join the forefront of design’s evolution—Design for Social Innovation—to help deliver healthy, positive, and just futures.
Design with kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga to respond to the critical issues facing our people and our changing environments through interdisciplinary design. Explore pressing issues like ethical practice, sustainability, equity, disability rights, cultural diversity, and social justice.
You’ll also consider kaupapa-Māori-framed approaches to co-designing systems, services, experiences and products.
Why Wellington
You’ll meet and work with people in government, the design industry, and local communities, using collaborative design approaches to learn from their lived experience. Through these connections, you’ll develop design projects that respond to real needs, opportunities, and contexts.
Design for Social Innovation is taught at the Te Aro Campus in the heart of Wellington, close to cultural and government institutions, including:
- Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui | Central Library
- Te Papa Tongarewa | Museum of New Zealand
- Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library
- Te Rua Mahara o te Kawanatanga | Archives New Zealand
- Te Whare Toi | City Gallery Wellington.
Choose your study path
You can study Design for Social Innovation as a major subject in the Bachelor of Design Innovation or the Bachelor of Environment and Society.
Bachelor of Design Innovation (BDI)
If you study a BDI, you’ll take part in lectures, workshops, and group work.
Study Design for Social Innovation within the BDI for a design-focused pathway with studio-based, hands-on learning. You’ll take core Design Innovation courses alongside Design for Social Innovation courses.
You’ll also study a minor or second major, either in another design subject or from across the University.
You could bring social, environmental, and systems thinking into areas such as Communication Design, Industrial Design, or Interaction Design. You could choose to study subjects from other parts of the University, including:
- Psychology
- Political Science
- Environmental Science
- Business
- Health.
Bachelor of Environment and Society (BEnvSoc)
Major in Design for Social Innovation within the Bachelor of Environment and Society to combine creative design practice with a broader understanding of social and environmental issues. If you want to explore environmental and social learning, this is a good study pathway.
You’ll take core courses alongside your Design for Social Innovation courses, learning across both Kelburn and Te Aro campuses.
Your core courses build knowledge of complex social and environmental issues, while your Social Design courses develop collaborative, creative and practical ways to engage with them.
Degree support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
Study options
Find out how you can study Design for Social Innovation at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Resources and expertise
Throughout your study, you’ll have access to workshops and dedicated design resources like:
- woodworking, metalworking, and hand tools
- a specialist photography studio and equipment
- a purpose-built fashion studio with digital and traditional pattern-making resources
- 3D printing digital-fabrication suites, with Stratasys voxel printers and a large-scale BigRep 3D printer
- facilities for recycling plastics into 3D printing filament
- facilities for working with bio-based materials
- a robotic arm
- film-editing suites.
Whatever your level of experience, our specialist technicians help you to get the most out of these resources.
Future careers
Design for Social Innovation opens doors in growing areas of design, strategy, and innovation.
Employers need people who can navigate societal challenges, work with different cultures and knowledge systems, and collaborate with people.
Graduates work in areas including:
- design consultancies
- government
- social or environmental organisations that work for positive change—large or small, local or global.
More career information
Find out more about careers in Design.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have first-year and school-leaver scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Design
There could be a scholarship for your qualification, subject area, background, or situation.
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Other scholarships
We also offer specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Design
There could be a scholarship for your qualification, subject area, background, or situation.
Postgraduate study
If you get good results in your undergraduate study, you could continue on to study a Master’s or PhD if you want to do independent research.
There are different Master’s options based on your interests. Common pathways include:
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you're facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Wellington Global Exchange
If you're a current student at Victoria University of Wellington, you can complete part of your degree overseas. Choose from our 140 partner universities worldwide.
Study Abroad and Exchange Programme
If you're an overseas student, you can spend a trimester or a year at Victoria University of Wellington. You'll earn credits at your home university while you study here.