Program Overview

Introduction to Design Communication

Course Overview

Introduction to Design Communication is a studio-based course that introduces students to discipline-specific conventions for describing formal and spatial subjects through photography, digital design, digital rendering, and graphic composition. The coursework consists of individual and interconnected exercises designed to test understanding of principles, media, and techniques used in the representation of three-dimensional design concepts.

Course Details

• Course Code: SARC 161
• Duration: 17 weeks
• Start Date: 23 February 2026
• End Date: 21 June 2026
• Trimester: Trimester 1
• CRN: 18171
• Campus: Te Aro
• Fees:
  • Domestic students: NZ$1,205.55
  • International students: NZ$5,558.70
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 150 hours or 8.8 hours per week
• Points: 15

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: None
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: None

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

1. Generate drawings of two-dimensional and three-dimensional subjects.
2. Generate models that describe three-dimensional concepts.
3. Communicate design ideas, development, and outcomes using visual, physical, and digital methods.

How This Course is Taught

Teaching and learning in this course will be delivered through twice-weekly, two-hour studio sessions. The course is assessed through two projects and ten weekly exercises. Listening, watching, drawing, and making within the studio environment will be used to advance and test students' understanding of both theoretical and applied knowledge of design communication.

Assessment

• Project 1: Ways of Making and Seeing - 40%
• Project 2: Documentation and the Urban Environment - 40%
• Performance-based Assessments (PBAs): 20%

What You'll Need to Get

Students will need to provide all materials and equipment necessary for the completion of coursework. Minimum requirements include:

• Craft knife
• Steel ruler (30CM)
• A4 cutting mat
• A selection of 4 pencil weights 2H-2B
• 2-4 sticks of black willow charcoal
• An eraser
• A block of A4 sketching paper Additionally, masking tape, double-sided tape, and thicker card for modeling may be required.

About the Course

Introduction to Design Communication is an on-campus only course, not available for distance study. All class sessions will be delivered in person at the Te Aro Campus. The course explores methods of research, analysis, innovation, and critique through the processes entailed in design communications.