Wanganui School of Design

History

Wanganui School of Design (WSD) was established in 1987, in Wanganui, New Zealand at K block on the Wanganui Regional Community Polytechnic Main Campus. To facilitate the more creative design students it then moved to the old Wanganui Westpac Building, and as they then grew bigger they relocated to the old Department of Conservation. But as there was a move to where the school is now, housed in a multi storey building (Formally know as the Terrace House, or the concreted X’d building) which is situated in the centre of Wanganui and contains extensive computer suites and design studios, with a photography room and green stage.

On 1 April 2002 the Wanganui Regional Community Polytechnic / Wanganui School of Design were integrated with the ever expanding UCOL. Over the years the school has gained an international reputation with its experimental work in new media and graphic design.

The School of Design is known to have an alternative voice in design education and has an abundant amount of excellent tutors all skilled in their selected fields. The school’s dynamic studio environment brings in students from all over New Zealand and has many overseas students ranging from Malaysia, China, Europe, and India who are all intent on engaging in a process of independent growth and constant experimentation in design.

:"Our computer suites are among the best in the Pacific Rim with state of the art technology for both multimedia authoring and graphic design exploration.":"The programme’s goal is to develop the questions that will fuel and inspire the field of design for years ahead."

The Head of Wanganui School of Design until July 2008 was professor Hazel Gamec.

Course modules

The Bachelor of Computer Graphic Design degree is a three year course, the School of Design allows further study with the Bachelor of Computer Graphic Design (Honours) or the Postgraduate Diploma of Computer Graphic Design as a fourth year of study. And as a fifth year of study there is the Master of Computer Graphic Design.The degrees in Computer Graphic Design are jointly awarded by the Wanganui School of Design and the University of Waikato in recognition of the design technology and research relationship established between both institutions.

Core modules:
*(1st Year) Applied English • Basic Design • Colour Practice and Theory • Computer Practical • Design History • Drawing • Introduction to Theory and Design Methodology • Photography • Production • Typography
*(2nd Year) Time Based Media • Computer Graphic Design • Computer Practical • Design History • Business Communications • Production • Typography • Online Media
*(3rd Year) Computer Graphic Design • Internship • Degree Project • Marketing • Design Methodology • Professional Practice • Typography
*(4th Year) Thesis Exhibition • Thesis Implementation • Thesis Research • Thesis Writing & Methodology
*(5th Year) Thesis Dissertation and Implementation • Thesis Exhibition • Thesis Writing • Methods

Electives courses can be taken from year two, semester two onwards.

Digital Media Electives:
*Computer Illustration • Advertising • Digital Typography • Exhibition Design • Package Design • Publication Design • Systems Design • Word and Images • Book Arts • Poster Design • Graphics for Fashion • Advanced Advertising • Advanced Computer Illustration • Advanced Package Design • Advanced Publication Design

Time-based Media Electives:
*3D Modelling • Animation • Interactive Media • On-line Media • Sound Design • Type in Motion • Video • Flash • Games Design • Advanced 3D Modelling • Advanced Animation • Advanced Interactive Media • Advanced Video • Advanced On-line Media

Awards

Recent awards the school has won

;2004 Best Awards
*Student Best of Category - " "to be shot in the front of the back of the head" "

;2005 Best Awards
*Student Best of Category - "theye"
*Interior Design - "e=mc2 interactive exhibition: adulthood"

;2006 Best Awards
* Website / Interactive Media – "Rabbit Farm" by Lin Yew Cheang

Other

The Wanganui School of Design was welcomed into the "Hall of Fame" on [http://www.nzmac.com/ NZ Mac] on the basis of their devotion to the use of Macintosh computers.

External links

* [http://www.wsd.ac.nz/ UCOL Wanganui School of Design]
* [http://www.ucol.ac.nz/ UCOL Web Site]

cite web
title = UCOL Wanganui School of Design
url=http://www.wsd.ac.nz/
accessdate = 2006-07-20 cite web
title = NZ Mac
url=http://www.nzmac.com/
accessdate = 2006-07-27