NCEA Level 2 Design
Course Description
Head of Faculty - Kaihautuu: Ms L. Purda.
Welcome to the wonderful world of DESIGN!
Here in Level 2 Design we use the Design Thinking model as a basis for everything we do.
What will I be learning in this course?
This course is about developing your knowledge of design and extending your skills in a range of digital art making media. You will learn how to create conceptual and authentic real-world design outcomes for potential or real clients. You will learn how to use a range of industry standard digital creative software including Adobe Creative Suite. Illustrators may prefer to use Procreate for image creation. We will also explore moving image for the purpose of promotion of your product/event/cause. This will be done through Adobe Premier Pro and After Effects.
Good design communicates a theme/message/emotion/information clearly with style and visual impact to capture the hearts and minds of its viewers. It can call people to action, grab their attention or entertain them.
What will your design purpose be? Who will you be designing for? What will you be communicating? What function will your design need to perform? Where and how will it be viewed and interacted with? What imagery will best suit this project? These are all questions that a good designer will take into consideration when coming up with their design concept.
What context (theme or topic) will you be working on in this course?
The focus for Level 2 Design in 2025 will be COLOUR MY WORLD! We will explore how colour impacts our mood, communicates meaning and can represent a theme or topic in its own very unique way.
In this course you will create a brand identity for a client, cause or event that is of personal interest to you. (This can be real or imagined) You will champion a cause, promote a business product or raise awareness of an event or charity. You will create a logo, digital image content either photographic or illustrated, add in some hand made elements if it is relevant, and use typography design to bring it all together. You will create a portfolio of work that will cover several smaller design projects in response to your overall brief. We will create some moving image promotional reels as part of our marketing and branding project.
You will develop a bespoke colour pallet to suit your chosen client, cause or event and you will investigate how colour can enhance and compliment your design ideas. You will learn how to generate and develop a succinct body of work that successfully promotes, communicates and engages your target audience.
You will learn a wide range of graphic compositional and style based techniques. You will learn and develop an in-depth knowledge of visual communication and art theory such as colour theory, art movements and styles, symbolism, political and art history movements that will inform your creative work and bring a deeper sense of meaning to your work.
Design is used in our everyday lives from the website design you scroll through to your album and music icon cover art on Spotify, through to your opening title sequences on your shows and movies, magazine designs, advertising billboards, product packaging, posters you see by the bus stop and on busses!, your favourite brands and screensavers on your device.... the world around us is emersed in design!
What career pathways can this lead to?
Graphic Designer, Communications, Public Engagement, Advertising Agency, Architecture, News, Entertainment Film and Documentary Media, Commercial Photography, Real Estate, Self Employment, Social Media Management, Screen Printing, Sign Making, Magazine and Book Publishing, Commercial Printing, Game Design, Professional Illustrator, Medical Education and Research Image Making and Graphic Design, Brand Management, Merchandise Management, Business Studies - Marketing, Market Research & Sales, UX (User Experience) Design, UI (User Interface) Design, Art Director, Museum Curator, Art Gallery Curator, Multi-Media Artist, Spatial Designer, Motion Graphics, Web Design, Packaging Design, Industrial Design, Concept Designer, Interior Design and more!
The creative industry contributes a large proportion of revenue to the global economy. According to the British Department for Culture, Media & Sport the creative industry is the largest growing industry in the country! Here is what the UK government has to say:
Recommended Prior Learning
It is preferable for students to have taken Level 1 Photo Design but learning in other art courses, or having skill in using adobe creative software will be considered as an adequate foundation. Students should have an interest in creativity, learning new techniques, working with digital technologies and trying new things. This course is an ideal and complementary subject to study alongside study in the Level 2 DVC course, or other Level 2 visual arts courses (Photography, Painting or Printmaking).
Contributions and Equipment/Stationery
It is and advantage and preferable for students to have their own device with capacity to run the Adobe Creative Suite needed to complete the course. Desk top computers are available for student use in- and out-of-class time at school.
Pathway
It is highly recommended that you have learned and achieved in the Year 11 Photo-Design as a foundation for this course, or have basic ability in using Adobe Creative Suite software. This course will develop advanced skills and knowledge in Graphic Design. Students will learn using industry standard software. Level 2 Design is an ideal foundation for students interested continuing on through into Level 3 Design and on into tertiary and industry pathways within the wider design sector. Graphic design involves working with a range of digital media including digital image making, type, spatial, product, advertising and media, website, billboard, printed media, packaging and merch design to name but a few. It's an exciting space to work in. If you are wanting to take moving image (3D, 2D animation, film and motion graphics) then you should select L2 Motion Special Effects (MFX) as both of these course use the same standards so you can not double dip. Please be aware of this when making your selection.
Assessment Information
Assessment in this course is portfolio based. Work will be produced in sequences throughout each term which will be assessed for three internals. A two-minute interactive digital submission is the final outcome and comprises the external portfolio assessment.Students should not take this course if they are planning on taking 2MFX as many of the standards cross over.
Other optional standards can be made available if needed including - A.S. 91312 v2 Visual Arts 2.2 - Use drawing methods to apply knowledge of conventions appropriate to photography and A.S. 91343 v4 Design and Visual Communication 2.36 - Use visual communication techniques to compose a presentation of a design.
Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
This course is eligible for subject endorsement.
This course is approved for University Entrance.
External
NZQA Info
Visual Arts 2.1 - Demonstrate an understanding of methods and ideas from established practice appropriate to design
NZQA Info
Visual Arts 2.2 - Use drawing methods to apply knowledge of conventions appropriate to design
NZQA Info
Visual Arts 2.3 - Develop ideas in a related series of drawings appropriate to established design practice
NZQA Info
Visual Arts 2.4 - Produce a systematic body of work that shows understanding of art making conventions and ideas within design
NZQA Info
Visual Arts 2.5 - Produce a resolved work that demonstrates control of skills appropriate to cultural conventions
Pathway Tags
Animator/Digital Artist, Software Developer, Patternmaker, Architect, Architectural Technician, Art Director (Film, Television or Stage), Artist, Sound Technician, Tailor/Dressmaker, Boat Builder, Urban/Regional Planner, Fashion Designer, Graphic Designer, Interior Designer, Industrial Designer, Jeweller, Technical Writer, Make-up Artist, Graphic Pre-press Worker, Visual Merchandiser, Exhibition and Collections Technician, Florist, Game Developer, Landscape Architect, Landscaper, Photographer, Printer, Signmaker, User Experience Designer, Garment Technician, Advertising Specialist, Copywriter, Sales and Marketing Manager, Journalist, Communications Professional, Telecommunications Technician, Art Director (Film, Television or Stage), Market Research Analyst, Model, Marketing Specialist, Early Childhood Teacher, Primary School Teacher, Private Teacher/Tutor, Secondary School Teacher, Teacher Aide,