Title
Version
Level
NZSCED
1
5
100501
Qualification developer
Next review
Approval date
Strategic purpose statement
Graduate profile
Education pathway
Qualification type Diploma
Credits 120
Creative Arts > Graphic and Design Studies > Graphic Arts and
Design Studies
New Zealand Qualifications Authority
July 2018
June 2015
This qualification is for people wanting to gain general skills and knowledge required to work in a technical or assistant digital media and design role.
The digital media and design industry and creative and cultural sector in Aotearoa New Zealand will benefit by having people trained in digital media and design at a general level.
Graduates will be capable of applying general skills and knowledge to digital media and design projects independently and in teams.
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:
- Apply problem-solving skills to a range of digital media and design challenges.
- Apply and manage a design process to meet requirements of project briefs within defined guidelines.
- Apply general and technical skills in the creation of design solutions.
- Analyse and evaluate own work and the work of others.
- Demonstrate professional practices, including leadership, in a digital media and design work environment.
The qualification provides a pathway from:
-
-
National Certificate of Educational Achievement
(NCEA) (Level 3) [Ref: 1039]
New Zealand Certificate in Digital Media and
Design (Level 4) [Ref: 2629]
- New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design (Level
4) [Ref: 2627]
- New Zealand Certificate in Fashion (Level 4) [Ref: 2630]
- New Zealand Certificate in Creativity (Level 4)
[Ref: 2869]
Graduates of this qualification may undertake further tertiary study at diploma or degree level in the fields of design, media, and/or art.
Qualification Reference 2638
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020 version 1 Page 1 of 4

Employment pathway Graduates of this qualification will have the skills and knowledge for a junior/entry-level position in various areas within creative industries. Those areas might include advertising, web design, in-house design studio, news media.
Qualification award
Evidence requirements for assuring consistency
This qualification may be awarded by any education organisation accredited under section 250 of the Education Act
1989 to deliver a programme leading to the award of this qualification.
The formal document certifying the award of this qualification will display the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) logo and may also include the name or logo of the qualification developer and/or the awarding body.
All tertiary education organisations (TEOs) either arranging training or delivering programmes that lead to the award of the qualification are required to participate with the qualification developer in a scheduled consistency process, in accordance with published national guidelines.
This will involve reviewing evidence associated with graduates’ achievement of outcomes, establishing a periodic cycle for a review focus for the external consistency review, and agreeing acceptable standards and/or benchmarks for qualification outcome achievement, and areas for improvement.
Standard evidence for programme providers may include:
- assessment information leading to the achievement of the graduate outcomes
- a portfolio of student work relating to the qualification and the annual review focus requirements
- graduate and/or stakeholder/end-user feedback on outcome achievement
- TEO moderation outcomes which may include moderation/benchmarking across common programmes
relevant External Evaluation and Review (EER) data
Minimum standard of achievement and standards for grade endorsements
The minimum standard of achievement required for the award of the qualification is the achievement of all graduate outcomes in the graduate profile.
There are no grade endorsements for this qualification.
Other requirements for the qualification (including regulatory body or legislative requirements)
Nil.
Qualification Reference 2638
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020 version 1 Page 2 of 4

General conditions for programme
The programme design, including assessment, must reflect the interconnectedness of graduate outcomes and the norms of digital media and design industry practices.
Prior to enrolment, candidates must have completed a Level 3 qualification in a related field or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills .
Programmes may be developed based on M āori principles and values, and are intended to enable W ānanga to meet obligations under the Education Act (1989, section 162(4)(b)(iv)).
All TEOs offering programmes leading to this qualification must maintain currency with amendments to, and replacement of, relevant legislation, regulations, rules and Australian/New
Zealand Standards.
Conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes Conditions
1 Apply problem-solving skills to a range of digital media and design challenges.
Credits 25
Programmes must include selection and application of appropriate problem-solving methods.
2 Apply and manage a design process to meet requirements of project briefs within defined guidelines.
Credits 30
Programmes must include identification of target market and purpose in relation to the stakeholder needs.
3 Apply general and technical skills in the creation of design solutions.
Credits 25
Programmes must include:
- Ideation – research, analysis of research, incorporation of feedback
- Development – initial and developed concepts, trials or testing
- Final result that meets the brief
- Use of project management tools.
Programmes must include selection and competent use of multiple tools and design principles appropriate to the design problem, which are informed by the research and analysis.
Programmes must include basic use of underpinning theory such as semiotic theory, deconstruction.
4 Analyse and evaluate own work and the work of others.
Credits 15
5 Demonstrate professional practices, including leadership, in a digital media and design work environment.
Credits 25
Programmes must include:
- ethics, copyright and intellectual property
- presentation of work for critique using a range of techniques e.g. pitch, online, onscreen, mock up
- self-promotion through the development of a body of work
Qualification Reference 2638
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020 version 1 Page 3 of 4

e.g. portfolio, online presence, show reels
- practice with an understanding of the implications of the
Treaty of Waitangi for digital media and design in Aotearoa
New Zealand
Programmes may include assignment and overseeing of roles within a team project.
Qualification Reference 2638
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New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2020 version 1 Page 4 of 4