Program Overview

Introduction to DSDN 111: Design Principles

DSDN 111 is a cross-disciplinary core course in the first year of the Bachelor of Design Innovation. This course introduces students to, and develops their fluency in, design vocabularies and composition specific to the configuration of design elements. Analogue and digital techniques are used to explore body, space, form, and movement.

Course Details

• Dates: 23 February 2026 to 21 June 2026
• Starts: Trimester 1
• Fees:
  • NZ$952.35 for domestic students
  • NZ$5,235.75 for international students
• Lecture Start Times: Tuesday 8:30am
• Campus: Te Aro
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 150 hours or 8.8 hours per week for 17 weeks
• Points: 15

Entry Restrictions

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

Taught By

The School of Design Innovation — Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation teaches this course.

Disclaimer

This course outline may be subject to change.

Key Dates

Important dates, including mid-trimester teaching breaks, can be found on the University's key dates calendar. Assessment dates will be announced once the course has begun.

About This Course

The lectures and studio sessions explore the compositional language of ordering forms, spaces, and fields useful to all three-dimensional design disciplines. The approach taken within the studio is one of thinking, observing, exploring, challenging, making, reflecting, and committing to a rigorous design process. Projects and exercises are designed to develop abilities in many areas of design inquiry and strengthen skills in perception, imagination, visualization, and self-discipline. Students are expected to take creative risks and experiment with materials and approaches in the resolution of highly considered and complex design outcomes. DSDN 111 is an on-campus only course and is not available for distance study.

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

1. Interpret precedents to inform their designs, design thinking, and design process in the compositional language of body, space, form, and movement.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in a range of methods and processes to make, explore, and develop design ideas.
3. Apply theoretical and design-specific frameworks introduced in the course into practical applications.
4. Explain their work verbally and visually with clarity and insightful reflection.

How This Course is Taught

DSDN 111 lectures, studios, and tutorials require in-person attendance. Lecture recordings will be made available for subsequent revision. The design studio operates at three levels of instruction: the whole class, the tutorial group, and the individual. Tutors will be in the studio at all scheduled times undertaking group and individual instruction and reviewing project work. Ongoing discussion will be critical to the development of design work. The Course Coordinator will be available during tutorial times and scheduled office hours to answer specific questions.

Assessment

• Point/Line: Hand-crafted models that explore the use of points and lines to apply design principles (20%).
• Planar Form: Hand-crafted models that showcase an application of design principles to create three-dimensional form, accompanied by design process documentation, expressive photography, and oral presentation (40%).
• Fluid Form: Highly crafted multi-material models that depict transition and dynamic movement, accompanied by design process documentation, expressive photography, and oral presentation (40%).

Mandatory Requirements

To pass this course, students must:

1. Achieve an overall pass mark of at least 50%.
2. Undergo the compulsory First-Year Student Health & Safety Induction (for all first-year students).

Lecture Times and Rooms

• 23 February 2026 to 5 April 2026
• 20 April 2026 to 31 May 2026

What You'll Need to Get

Students will need to provide all materials and equipment necessary for the completion of coursework. A list of required, recommended, and suggested items is available in the Orientation Handbook.

Past Versions of This Course

Older versions of this course may be accessible through the course archive.