About Design
We are unique in New Zealand in our approach to teaching in the field of design: our courses seemlessly integrate with a broad range of disciplines from across Otago University’s other excellent departments. This enriches our experience as researchers, teachers and the education of our students.
Design is a friendly and fast growing community of academic staff, general staff and students all going forward within an exciting area that has an impact on most of the things we do on our small planet.
The department has grown steadily and continues to do so, with more students across most areas of study every year. This creates an excellent atmosphere of creative enthusiasm, which is as energising as it is contagious.
The University of Otago, founded in 1869 by an ordinance of the Otago Provincial Council, is New Zealand’s oldest university. The Design Studies programme developed within the School of Consumer and Applied Science, which was established in 1911, as the School of Home Science. Since its emergence as a distinct subject in the mid-1980s, Design Studies has grown into a multi-layered course with highly innovative teaching programmes.
Design Studies became a full department within the School of Consumer and Applied Science in 2001.
