Diploma in Design & Media

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Pass an interview (online/ virtual/ conventional) OR submission of student's portfolio, to be determined by the HEP as required.
A qualification that APU accepts as equivalent to the above.

** Credit in English is required at SPM/IGCSE/O-Level or equivalent.

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

This APIIT Diploma in Design & Media is designed to provide:

• Provide a programme that covers the academic aspect as well as the vocational aspects of Design and Media.
• Prepare students for careers in the Design and Media environment.
• Provide students with academic and professional skills to develop solutions requiring a holistic outlook in Design Studies.
• Provide students with critical, independent and cooperative learning skills so as to facilitate their response to continuous future international change.
• Develop students’ intellectual skills, communications ability and team working capability.
• Provide students with opportunities for progression into Degree Programmes of Design and Media standard in relevant areas.

Semester 1, 2 and 3 of this diploma is aim to provide some fundamental modules which are relevant to the Design and Media field and to prepare students proceed to different pathways in Semester 4 and 5. Students will be placed in an innovative learning environment to develop their knowledge and skills in various design and media curriculum.

The first semester aims to provide essential skills to new students that are relevant to their academic life. Students will be exposed to specific terminologies and technologies related to the Design and Media field. Students will learn the fundamentals of drawing, idea generations and the study of trends and visual thinking.

In the second semester, students will develop their communication skills and understand important art theories, media theories and its practices in the creative industry. Students will further polish their hand illustrations skills and presentation methods through the use of marker renderings.

During the third semester, students will be introduced to the management of creative projects. Students will be exposed to various methods of research that can be used to formulate effective design solutions. Students will also utilise the skills developed from previous semester and practically apply them into team-based projects that will cultivate their design thinking skills. In addition, they will be exploring theoretical original principles in animation, 3D digital imaging, character and environment conceptual art design. 

ROUTE A: LEADING TO ADVERTISING AND MEDIA PATHWAY

Be ready to get valuable hands-on experience and exposure to industry based projects in the fourth semester. Students will get to select their pathway modules to further expand their foundations in technical specialisation and creative exploration.

Students will be introduced to the basic use of research techniques to analyse and understand concepts of brand placement and brand identity to formulate design brief based on market research. Students will also be looking into basic marketing principles, issues relating to consumer behaviour and strategies for creative practice.

Illustrated talks and informal discussions will take place in semester 5 to investigate the study of design context as well as to critically evaluate and interpret cinematography taxonomies. At the end of their semester, students will proudly showcase their design skills from their Major Project in a public exhibition. This will be an opportunity for them to meet and present their portfolio to a panel of industry experts.

ROUTE B: LEADING TO ANIMATION PATHWAY

Be ready to get valuable hands-on experience and exposure to industry-based projects in the fourth semester. Students will get to select their pathway modules to further expand their foundations in technical specialisation and creative exploration.

Students will be provided a broad historical overview of Animation Development. Creativity and contextualisation in moving image production are explored through the introduction of cinema, animation, and other numerous visual mediums. 

Illustrated talks and informal discussions will take place in semester 5 to investigate the study of design context as well as to critically evaluate and interpret cinematography taxonomies. Alternatively, students will be introduced to traditional and digital character sculpting methods. 

By end of their semester, students will proudly showcase their design skills from their Major Project in a public exhibition. This will be a great opportunity for them to meet and present their portfolio to a panel of industry professionals at this event.

ROUTE C: LEADING TO VISUAL EFFECTS PATHWAY

Be ready to get valuable hands-on experience and exposure to industry-based projects in the fourth semester. Students will get to select their pathway modules to further expand their foundations in technical specialisation and creative exploration.

From stills to moving images, students will gain a deep understanding of the history, theory, and practises of digital compositing. Students will also gain insight into the workflow of visual effects production using a range of post-production technologies, interweaving between 2D working space to 3D working space.

Illustrated talks and informal discussions will take place in semester 5 to investigate the study of design context as well as to critically evaluate and interpret cinematography taxonomies. Alternatively, students will also further develop their skills in 3D post-production techniques such as 3D tracking, lighting, and compositing.

By end of their semester, students will proudly showcase their design skills from their Major Project in a public exhibition. This will be a great opportunity for them to meet and present their portfolio to a panel of industry professionals at this event.

ROUTE D: LEADING TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN PATHWAY

Be ready to get valuable hands-on experience and exposure to industry based projects in the fourth semester. Students will get to select their pathway modules to further expand their foundations in technical specialisation and creative exploration. 

Students will experience hands-on practical sessions to understand how to work with different tools and materials. Students will also be exposed to solid modelling computer-aided design skills such as Solidworks or Rhino.

Supplementing to their final individual project, they will also learn essential techniques to digitally illustrate their designs and animate in 2D and 3D. 

Illustrated talks and informal discussions will take place in semester 5 to investigate the study of design context as well as to critically evaluate and interpret cinematography taxonomies. At the end of their semester, they will proudly showcase their design skills from their Major Project in a public exhibition. This will be an opportunity for them to meet and present their portfolio to a panel of industry experts.

FURTHER STUDIES

Upon successful completion of this programme, you will be eligible to progress into Level 2 of the following degree programmes offered at APU. Students will also have the option to opt-in for the APU-DMU Dual Degree Scheme.

• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Industrial Design
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Visual Effects
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Animation
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Digital Advertising
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Media and Communication Studies

COURSE FEES

​* Fees stated here do not include Deposits and other Miscellaneous Fees. Please refer to Fee Guide for details.

MQA ACCREDITATION