Explore your options
Study interior design at Unitec and you’ll spend lots of time in the studio working on projects and applying technical skills. You’ll design inspiring retail stores, bars, restaurants, and residential spaces. You’ll be introduced to key trade industry suppliers visit a range of showrooms and manufacturers and see the action behind the scenes.
You start with the New Zealand Diploma in Interior Design (Residential) and learn interior design fundamentals that span across both residential and commercial. Here you focus on applying your skills to residential interiors. You can then pathway into the New Zealand Diploma in Interior Design (Commercial) to gain commercial design knowledge and skills, expanding your skills and capabilities. Note that the residential programme is a prerequisite for the commercial.
There is the opportunity to complete work experience in the industry while working on your own in-depth projects. This industry focus and application of industry connected learning is one of the reasons our graduates have gone on to win at national and international awards.
Unitec’s interior design programmes are highly respected, and you’ll be inspired by experienced tutors and expert guest lecturers. You will have opportunities to work on real-world projects where you will collaborate with professionals and clients on the design.
You’ll get to show off your hard work and network with the industry in the campus galleries and at the end-of-year graduate show.
Programmes and study path
| PROGRAMME | LEVEL | DURATION | CAREER OPTIONS | START DATES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways (Level 4) – Architecture | 4 | Full-time for 16 weeks or part-time options available. | This programme prepares you for study toward a career in architecture and architectural technology | February or July |
| New Zealand Diploma in Interior Design (Residential) | 5 | Full-time for 1 year. Part-time options available. | Junior interior designer (residential), Interior design assistant (residential), Colour consultant, Kitchen and bathroom designer, Self-employed residential interior designer, Specialist sales roles in textile, furniture, lighting | February |
| New Zealand Diploma in Interior Design (Commercial) | 6 | Full-time for 1 year. Part-time options available. | Commercial interior designer within a design or architectural practice, Design stylist, Junior interior designer (commercial), Specialist sales roles e.g. architectural representatives | February |
Facilities
Study interior design in our dedicated school building, and you will have access to dedicated studio space and computer labs with cutting-edge industry-standard software.
Our fully-equipped hard-materials workshop and maker-space facilities let you get hands-on and see the physical representation of your ideas.
You’ll study alongside students in architecture, landscape architecture, and landscape design and see how your work complements the other design professions.
