Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Design
TU Dublin Blanchardstown Campus
This is a blended day-time programme that combines in-person and online classes throughout the academic year.
Future-Proof Your Career With Digital Design Skills
Boost your digital design career with our Postgraduate Diploma. Ideal for beginners or current designers, this program covers essential skills from UX to design leadership. No matter your background, enhance your career potential and transform into a digital design leader ready for tomorrow’s challenges!
Our Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Design is fully funded for eligible unemployed people and those returning to education. If you’re a recent graduate or currently employed, the program is 90% funded. This funding comes from Human Capital Initiative Pillar 1 programs. Find out more about eligibility and fees.
What Will I Study?
This 60 ECTS credit blended program mixes in-person and online classes, limited to two days a week for a work-study balance. From September to June, expect three 10 ECTS modules per semester. This is a blended day-time programme in which students will be expected to be present for a mixture of face-to-face and online classes over the academic year.
Select a module to find out more:
Design Leadership
Learners will gain the expertise to thrive as dynamic design leaders, setting design visions, articulating their significance to stakeholders, and nurturing innovation in organizations for tangible results and impactful change. Our Design Leadership module empowers learners with the strategies and skills needed for creative teamwork, building stellar design teams, strategizing design processes, and expanding design functions effectively. Topics include:
- Intro to Design Leadership
- Developing Design Teams
- Strategic Design Management
- Scaling Design & Design Ops
- Measuring & Communicating Design Impact
- Ethical Considerations in Design
Design Research
Learners delve deep into design methodologies to understand the desires, objectives, and behaviours of users. Blending theory with hands-on experiences, students master the art of conducting impactful design research, transforming insights into successful products, services, and innovations. Topics include:
- Intro to Design Research and Research Methods
- Planning Design Research Studies
- Analysis and Modelling Techniques
- Ethics in Practice
- Strategic, Qualitative and Quantitative Design Research Methods
- Documentation,Communication and Presentation of Insights and Findings
Design Thinking
Unlock the power of Design Thinking, a collaborative approach to crafting human-centered solutions for business, civic and environmental challenges. This module offers learners a deep dive into the Design Thinking mindset and arms them with the skills to seamlessly apply it across varied contexts and domains. Topics include:
- Intro to Design Thinking
- Cultivating Empathy Through Human-Centered Research
- Problem Definition and Ideation Techniques
- Prototyping and Evaluation Techniques
- Collaboration and Facilitation
- Pitching and Effective Presentations
Interaction Design
This module provides learners with a robust grounding in core interaction principles, usability insights, universal design, and accessibility standards. From building user interfaces to exploring advanced topics like design systems for varied digital platforms, learners will be well-equipped to shape interactive experiences for today’s and tomorrow’s tech. Topics include:
- Interaction Design Principles
- Accessibility, Usability and Universal Design
- Anatomy of Interactions
- Wireframing and Interactive Prototyping
- Design for Immersive Media and Emerging Technologies
User Experience Design
This module immerses learners in the crucial principles of User Experience (UX), showcasing its power to drive innovation and align product solutions with both user needs and business goals. From initial user research to the final implementation, students will journey through every stage of the UX design process, employing a rich toolkit of methods and techniques to bring design concepts to life. Topics include:
- Intro to UX Design
- Ethical and Inclusive Design Practices
- UX Research
- Solution Design and Prototyping
- Evaluation Techniques
- Communicating The Impact and Value of UX
Visual Design Fundamentals
This module offers learners a holistic grasp of key disciplines, from graphic design to visual storytelling. Cultivate a process-driven approach, enabling seamless ideation, evaluation, and execution of design concepts. Develop the confidence to tackle design challenges, critically analyse design choices, and envision innovative solutions. Topics include:
- Intro to Visual Design
- Developing a Visual Design Process
- Elements and Principles of Graphic Design
- Working With Digital & Design Assets
- Image Editing Software Basics
- Communicating Design Solutions
Why Digital Design?
As technology reshapes our world, digital design skills are more crucial than ever. Our graduates:
- Master design tools and theories.
- Prioritize human-centered Universal Design.
- Innovate for diverse challenges.
- Dive deep into research and insights.
- Collaborate and lead in team settings.
- Commit to ethical, inclusive, and sustainable design.
Eligibility
Dive into Digital Design with our Postgraduate Diploma, even without a design background. Ideal candidates are tech-savvy, design-curious, and open to innovation. Admission Requirements:
- NFQ Level 8 undergrad degree (2.2 or higher) OR NFQ Level 7 with significant experience.
- Submit a 3-5 slide PDF (under 20MB) highlighting your experience, skills, creativity, and motivation.
- Non-native English speakers: IELTS 7 overall (min. 6 in each component) or equivalent.
Industry Collaboration
Developed with industry, the programme integrates a seminar series across two academic semesters which brings professional expertise directly into the classroom.
We also welcome industry or civic partners to submit design challenges or live projects. Give students the unique opportunity to tackle real-world problems, develop critical skills, and make a meaningful impact in your industry. In return, benefit from fresh perspectives, innovative solutions, and a chance to scout exceptional talent.
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