NCEA Level 1 Design and Visual Communication

Year 11 Design and Visual Communication (DVC) introduces students to the principles of design focused on real-world, user-centred outcomes. Assessed using NCEA Level 1 Achievement Standards, the course supports students to explore and respond to authentic design briefs in a variety of contexts, including architecture, interior design, product design, and landscape design.

Students will complete two major design projects, each developed for a specific client or target audience rather than for themselves. Through these projects, learners will engage in the full design process—exploring design heritage (Aotearoa and International), researching needs, generating and developing ideas, and using a range of visual communication techniques to present their thinking. The course emphasises creative thinking where students are encouraged to consider the function, aesthetics, sustainability, and cultural relevance of their designs. Drawing skills, both freehand and instrumental, along with digital modelling tools, are used to visually express and refine concepts.

This course builds a strong foundation for further study in Level 2 DVC and supports future pathways in architecture, industrial design, urban planning, and other creative and technical design industries.