Unitec New Zealand | Experience Real World Learning
Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts (Product and Furniture Design) image

Discover how to bring mass-produced products from concept to market. Use the latest software and experiment with materials to invent a range of products. Work in studios, CAD laboratories and workshops, create a prototype, computer model and design report, and display your work at The Unitec Grad Show.


[BDVA]

7, 360

Full-time for three years

Starts February and July

25 places

Applications will be considered in the date order received.

CA2367

Mt Albert campus

NZ$ 5158

International fees
Programme summary
Career opportunities
Courses and timetables
Admission requirements
Portfolio requirements

Programme summary

Want to design a snowboard, phone or perhaps a toaster? Learn how to bring products from concept to market – from furniture, electrical goods and medical equipment, to vehicles, homeware and garden tools. Create products that are creative, market-sensitive and designed with a sustainable future in mind. Produce prototypes from your own computer models, use the latest design software, and work in state-of-the-art CAD laboratories and workshops.

Every product you touch – be it a snowboard, phone, toaster or wheelchair – will have been devised by a product designer. On completion of the Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts (Product and Furniture Design) you’ll know how to bring mass-produced products from conception to market. You’ll be able to invent products that are not only realistic and downright creative, but also market sensitive and designed with a sustainable future in mind.

Learn about design sketching, 2D and 3D visualisation and modelling, computer-based simulation and animation, and design movements and cults. Work with the latest CAD software, experiment with new materials, carry out product testing, and produce physical prototypes directly from computer models. You’ll also explore the works of prominent designers to further your understanding of product design. In your first year, you’ll learn how to apply a structured approach to design. In the following years, you’ll put what you’ve learnt into practice by working on real design projects.

Real-world learning
Develop practical experience designing real products in our studios, CAD laboratories, workshops, photographic studios, machine shop and ergonomics lab. Gain valuable insights from guest lecturers, and learn from a team of internationally experienced lecturers, who are engaged with innovation in design.

In your final year, you’ll get to relish the independence of working on an individual project, designing a product and developing a functioning prototype, computer model and design report. You’ll also get the chance to display your ingenious work at The Unitec Grad Show.

Industry recognition
This degree is proudly recognised by industry leaders such as Scion, Design Mobel, Queensberry, Goode Industries and Criterion Group.

Exit award: If you complete two years of this qualification and don't want to continue on to the third year, you may be entitled to receive the Diploma in Product Design Studies. You can then come back any time to finish the third year of the bachelors degree.

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Career opportunities

  • CAD designer
  • Design researcher
  • Furniture designer
  • Industrial designer
  • Model maker
  • New product development manager
  • Packaging designer
  • Product designer
  • Self employed designer-maker
  • Technology and graphics teacher (secondary school)

 

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Courses and timetables

To view the list of courses and timetables for this programme for 2010, please click here.

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the general, discretionary or special admission requirements. Applicants must also meet the English language requirements. Applicants must submit a portfolio of work and may also be interviewed.

To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the general, discretionary or special admission requirements. Applicants must also meet the English language requirements. Applicants must submit a portfolio of work and may also be interviewed.

General admission

Applicants must:

  • Be at least 16 years of age when the programme begins (or provide a completed Early Release Exemption form, which you can obtain from your local Ministry of Education office); and
  • Have a minimum of 42 NCEA credits at level 3 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, including a minimum of:
    • 14 credits in each of two subjects from an approved subject list; and
    • 14 credits taken from no more than two additional domains on the National Qualifications Framework or approved subjects; and
  • Have a minimum of eight credits at level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Maori, of which four credits must be in Reading and four in Writing (see note), or equivalent; and
  • Have at least three C passes in New Zealand University Bursaries examinations, or equivalent; or
  • Have gained the Unitec Certificate in Design and Visual Arts, or equivalent; or
  • Have gained the Unitec Certificate in Foundation Studies: Whitinga (Level 3) with a relevant endorsement, where appropriate, or equivalent.

Discretionary admission (for applicants aged under 20)

Applicants who do not meet the general admission requirements and who are less than 20 years of age when the programme begins may be considered for discretionary admission if they can demonstrate aptitude for study at the required level. This could include, for example:

  • Having a minimum of 72 credits at NCEA level 2 in their best four subjects, including English, or equivalent; or
  • Having a minimum of 42 credits at level 3 or higher on the NQF, including, but not limited to, the following subjects:
    • Art History
    • Design (Practical Art)
    • Graphics
    • Painting (Practical Art)
    • Photography (Practical Art)
    • Printmaking (Practical Art)
    • Sculpture (Practical Art)
    • Technology; or equivalent.
  • Having a maximum of 10 in their best four New Zealand Sixth Form Certificate subjects, or equivalent; or
  • Having at least three C passes in New Zealand University Bursaries examinations, or equivalent.

Special admission (for applicants aged 20 and over)

Applicants who do not meet the general admission requirements and who are at least 20 years of age when the programme begins may be considered for special admission if they can provide evidence of aptitude or appropriate work or other experience.

English language

Applicants must:

  • Have a minimum of eight NCEA credits in English at level 2, of which four must be in Reading and four in Writing, or equivalent; or
  • Have a minimum of seven NCEA credits at level 3 in an English-rich subject, or equivalent; or
  • Have successfully completed studies at level 5 or higher in an English medium; or
  • Have a grade of 5 or better in New Zealand Sixth Form Certificate English, or equivalent; or
  • Have New Zealand University Bursaries in an English-rich subject with a minimum mark of 40 percent, or equivalent; or
  • Have an overall IELTS band score (Academic) of no less than 6.0 (with no band score lower than 5.0), or a TOEFL score of no less than 550, or equivalent; or
  • Have an appropriate Unitec English language qualification, such as the Diploma in English (Academic), or equivalent.

 

Note: New Zealand secondary school graduates who have English as an additional language (EAL) using NCEA to meet Unitec programmes general admission criteria may substitute the eight credits in English at NCEA level 2 (four in Reading and four in Writing) with an IELTS score (or equivalent). This IELTS score is the same as that required by the programme in which they wish to enrol. These students are still required to achieve a minimum of 42 NCEA credits at level 3 or higher and the Mathematics or Pangarau requirements.

 

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Portfolio requirements

All applicants must submit with their application a portfolio of work that demonstrates their ability within their chosen major or within a variety of art, design or related media.

The portfolio should comprise 15-20 reproductions of their recent best work and may be submitted as colour photographs, digital files on CD or DVD (.jpegs must not be larger than one meg) or colour laser prints (no larger than A4).

Applicants may be invited to an interview at the next stage of the selection process.

Need a little more help with your portfolio?

Follow our portfolio hints and tips on what to include, what not to include and how to lay it all out.

 



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