Please note: Information on this page relates to the 2012 academic year unless otherwise specified.
On this page:
- Overview
- Undergraduate Information
- Postgraduate Information
- How to Find out More
- Related Subjects and Careers
- List of Courses
This subject is taught by the School of Design.
Overview
Culture+Context combines both studio-based and theoretical studies in design within a multidisciplinary approach. This enables students to use the studio environment to creatively explore new concepts, evolving theories and historical ideas that contribute to design in contemporary culture. It recognises the increasing importance of design, and is influenced by new technologies, shifting geo-politics and global culture and society.
Culture+Context is a cross-disciplinary subject providing an insightful approach to critical understandings and contemporary interpretations of design. Students will acquire thorough knowledge of key historical and theoretical approaches in design, and will examine their impact on visual culture. Culture+Context explores the relationship between design and related disciplines by requiring students to select a minor subject from a diverse range including Psychology, Cultural Anthropology, Marketing, Māori Studies, Pacific Studies, Film and Media Studies, as well as Industrial Design and Media Design.
Working in a stimulating environment at Victoria’s School of Design, you will have the opportunity to design objects within a critical and theoretical framework. In our rapidly changing society, employers value the innovation and experience of our graduates from the Culture+Context specialisation.
Culture+Context is a specialisation in the Bachelor of Design Innovation (BDI) degree. This undergraduate programme leads into a two-year Master of Design Innovation (MDI) for those seeking a professional qualification in areas wider than traditional design disciplines.
For more detailed information on the School of Design and its programmes, see School of Design.
Undergraduate Information
Entry Requirements
To enrol in a BDI you must have a University Entrance qualification and have met the Guaranteed Entry Score requirements for this degree. For more information, please see the admission webpages for New Zealand students and International students.
Useful background subjects are creative subjects such as Graphics, Technology, Art or Design and essay-based subjects, such as English, History, Art History, Classics, Geography or Economics.
Degree Requirements
The BDI in Culture+Context is a three-year undergraduate degree consisting of 360 points and is structured in two parts. Culture+Context students must include a minor in another subject.
Part 1
Part 1 is the first year of the Design Innovation programme (120 points). This year you take the same courses as students in Industrial Design and Media Design programmes.
In Part 1 you will investigate a broad range of essential design ideas, principles, histories, theories, practices and strategies. You will use the vocabularies of three- and four-dimensional design to explore concepts and challenge traditional and presumptive definitions of design.
Part 1 comprises 4 core courses and 4 elective courses as follows:
Core courses:
- DSDN 101 Design Visualisation
- DSDN 111 Ideas and Principles of Design
- DSDN 171 Design in Context
- WRIT 101 Writing English or WRIT 151 Academic Writing in ESL - English as a Second Language*
- Four elective courses including at least one further 100-level DSDN course and courses that prepare you for your minor subject.
*If you have achieved 14 or more NCEA Level 3 credits in English, History, Art History, Classics, Geography or Economics you may substitute WRIT 101 or WRIT 151 with an additional elective course.
*We recommend including DSDN 141 Experimenting with Materials and DSDN 144 Photographics.
Part 2
Part 2 comprises the second and third years of the BDI degree.
Note: Entry into Part 2 is based on your academic performance in Part 1. Entry generally requires good grades across all courses completed in Part 1.
Part 2 is a total of 240 points - 120 points in each year.
In Part 2 you will develop an insightful and innovative approach to critical understandings and contemporary interpretations of design, as well as a thorough knowledge of key historical and theoretical approaches and precedents in design. You will also develop an appreciation of the contributions design has made to material and visual culture. A commitment to cross-disciplinary studies means you will also benefit from exposure to other relevant disciplines.
Part 2 core courses:
There are five core courses, (two in second year and three in third year) and a total of 140 points of elective courses in Part 2. The core courses are as follows:
2nd year core courses (40 points):
3rd year core courses (60 points):
Culture+Context elective course requirements
The breadth and flexibility provided by the elective courses is a key feature of the Culture+Context specialisation. The electives provide opportunity to place design concepts and understandings in a broader context, and to engage with issues of how design affects, and is affected by, those contexts.
It is important that you plan your electives carefully to get the best out of your programme of study. In selecting electives you need to ensure that your overall BDI programme contains at least 360 points, and that your electives include:
- at least one minor subject (see below)
- any 100-level prerequisite courses necessary for your minor subject
- at least 95 points from the BDI schedule*, of which at least 20 points must be at 200-level
- at least 100 points at 200- or 300-level, including at least 20 points at 300-level.
*The BDI schedule includes all CCDN, DSDN, INDN or MDDN courses.
- If you plan to do 200-level courses in Industrial Design you should include DSDN 104 and 141 in your first year; if you plan to do 200-level Media Design courses you should include DSDN 112 and 142 in your first-year.
Culture+Context minors
Culture+Context students must do at least one minor, from the recommended list below, outside the School of Design. With careful planning, it is possible to include a second minor, although not required.
Students are advised to combine their minor(s) with electives offered by the School of Design.
A minor requires 60 points at 200- and 300-level including at least 20 points at 300-level.
Recommended minors include:
Please contact the relevant Faculty or School for course information relating to your choice of minor.
Postgraduate Information
Please visit our postgraduate study pages on the School of Design website for information about postgraduate qualifications in Culture+Context.
How to Find out More
You can order more information on this subject by registering on our Request for Study Material database.
Victoria's Student Recruitment, Admission and Orientation Office offer advice on courses and help with planning your degree.
Contact the School of Design Student Administration Office for information on:
- admission
- qualifications and courses
- course advice and selection criteria
- exemptions and prerequisites and
- your Application to Study.
All courses are taught at Victoria's Te Aro Campus.
School of Design Student Administration Office
Phone: +64 4 463 6200
Email: design@vuw.ac.nz
Related Subjects and Careers
The following list gives examples of how various minors can lead to a range of careers:
| Minor | Career |
|---|---|
| Cultural Anthropology | Design Culture Critic and Researcher |
| Art History | Museum or Gallery Critic and Curator |
| Management | Design Manager |
| Māori Studies | Promotional Māori Design Advocate |
| Philosophy | Design Theory Researcher |
| Psychology | Product Interface Designer |
| Sociology | Design Consultant and Manager |
Those who choose a double minor have a wider range of options:
| Double Minor | Careers | |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Design | Asian Studies | Offshore Design Promotion and Facilitator |
| Film | English | Film Writer |
| Psychology | Cultural Anthropology | Design Analyst |
| Media Design | Marketing | In-house Media Design Promoter |
| Industrial Design | Marketing | Design Retail Store Manager and Owner |
List of Courses
| 100 Level Design Innovation Courses |
|---|
DSDN 101 – Design Visualisation |
DSDN 104 – Digital Creation |
DSDN 111 – Ideas and Principles of Design |
DSDN 112 – Introduction to Interaction Design |
DSDN 141 – Experimenting with Materials |
DSDN 142 – Creative Coding |
DSDN 144 – Photographics |
DSDN 171 – Design in Context |
| 200 Level Culture + Context Courses |
|---|
CCDN 231 – Experimental Design Ideas |
CCDN 271 – Design as Inquiry |
| 300 Level Culture + Context Courses |
|---|
CCDN 331 – Live Theory |
CCDN 332 – Design + |
CCDN 371 – Cultures of Design |
CCDN 381 – Independent Study |
CCDN 382 – Independent Study |
CCDN 383 – Special Topic |
CCDN 384 – Special Topic |