Why Study/Key Benefits

The Visual Communication Design major within Massey University’s Bachelor of Design with Honours is designed for students who want to work across contemporary visual communication, combining creative practice, design thinking, digital media and research. The programme covers print, web, video, typography, information and graphic design, interaction and service design, illustration and branding. Students are encouraged to solve complex design problems, work collaboratively and adapt to new technologies and professional contexts.

A major benefit of the honours route is the fourth year, which is strongly research-led and includes a substantial independent design research and development project. Massey also states that fourth-year students may work with live briefs and external clients, providing exposure to professional design contexts.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The qualification has a broad design foundation followed by progressively more specialised Visual Communication Design study and a research-led honours year.

Year One

Students complete 120 credits consisting broadly of:

• 60 credits of studio courses across different design/art disciplines
• 30 credits of theory
• 30 credits of electives

The purpose is to establish fundamental design skills, principles and creative practice.

The Visual Communication Design component includes introductory options such as:

• 222157 Visual Communication Design 1.1: Introduction to Graphic Design – 15 credits
• 222158 Visual Communication Design 1.2: Introduction to Typography – 15 credits
• 222159 Visual Communication Design 1.3: Introduction to User Experience Design – 15 credits

These introduce graphic design principles, typography, visual language, information hierarchy, UI/UX, prototyping and user testing.

Year Two

The second year focuses more strongly on techniques, processes and issues within the major, alongside theory/enterprise and electives.

Visual Communication Design options include:

• 222263 Type and Image Systems
• 222264 Visualising Information
• 222265 User Experience and Web Design
• 222266 Brand Communication
• 222267 Illustration Practice
• 222268 Transmedia and Motion Graphics

These subjects cover publication design, data and narrative visualisation, web/UI/UX, branding, illustration, motion graphics and transmedia communication.

Year Three

The third year increases collaboration and allows deeper specialisation. The Visual Communication Design options include:

• 222358 Design for Social Change – 30 credits
• 222367 Editorial Design and Production – 15 credits
• 222368 Brand Strategies and Systems – 15 credits
• 222369 User Experience and Interaction Design – 15 credits
• 222372 Visual Narrative – 15 credits

These subjects develop advanced skills in editorial and publication design, branding, user-centred service/experience design, visual storytelling, motion, illustration and digital interactive media.

Year Four

The fourth year is the research-led honours stage. The structure includes:

• 75 credits of studio/research-led work
• 15 credits of an externally focused course
• 30 credits of electives

Disciplines/Specialisations

The selected major is Visual Communication Design.

Within the major, students can develop expertise in areas including:

• Graphic design
• Typography
• Editorial and publication design
• Information design and data visualisation
• User experience and user interface design
• Web design
• Interaction design
• Service and experience design
• Illustration
• Branding and brand strategy
• Motion graphics
• Transmedia
• Visual narrative
• Design for social change
• Digital and interactive media

Programme Highlights

• NZQF level 8 honours qualification.
• 480-credit, four-year full-time degree.
• Wellington-based creative arts and design study.
• Strong studio, workshop and media-lab learning environment.
• 210-credit Visual Communication Design major.
• Broad coverage of print, digital, interactive and moving-image communication.
• Opportunities to combine the major with electives and an optional minor.
• Interdisciplinary pathways can be built around areas such as climate change, material innovation, health and wellbeing, social change, exhibition and curation and printmaking.
• Fourth-year research and development project.
• Opportunities to engage with live briefs and external clients.
• Current Massey information states that the College of Creative Arts ranks in the global top 200 for Art & Design in QS, while Massey is ranked 2nd in Asia Pacific in the 2025 Red Dot Design Ranking.
• Massey reports that 94% of its design graduates are employed in relevant industries within six months of completing their degree; this is a university-reported figure and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of employment for an individual student.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies opportunities for Visual Communication Design graduates in:

• Publishing
• Branding
• Interactive design
• Entertainment
• Graphic design
• Advertising
• IT and web design
• Film studios
• Post-production
• Publications
• Illustration
• Freelance design
• Design consultancy
• Strategic design roles in business, government and social/civic enterprises

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The current qualification is a 480-credit Bachelor of Design with Honours at NZQF level 8.
• Visual Communication Design is a 210-credit major within the qualification.
• There are no additional formal admission requirements for Visual Communication Design beyond Massey's general university admission requirements.
• A Creative Review is recommended but is not stated as a separate admission requirement.
• The programme is currently available to international students on campus in Wellington.
• For scholarship applicants, a creative portfolio may be required even though the degree itself does not specify a mandatory portfolio for admission. The International Creative Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship specifically requires a portfolio and approximately 300-word statement.
• Massey recommends that international applicants apply at least three months before their intended start date to allow time for processing and visa/travel arrangements.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student physically studying this programme in Wellington, the relevant New Zealand immigration route is generally the Fee Paying Student Visa.

Current Immigration New Zealand information states:

• Visa: Fee Paying Student Visa
• Maximum length: up to 4 years
• Cost: from NZD $850
• Processing: 80% within 8 weeks
• Applicants need an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Applicants must demonstrate funds to pay tuition fees or have an appropriate scholarship.
• Applicants must demonstrate sufficient living funds or have an acceptable sponsor.
• Appropriate medical and travel insurance is required.
• Applicants must satisfy health and character requirements and demonstrate genuine intentions to study.
• Students must be able to show they can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.