Student Handbook 2024/25
Higher National Diploma in Digital Design
Fast track into a career in digital design
Our Higher National Diploma in Digital Design course provides an immersive experience across various design disciplines, equipping creative students with real-world skills tailored to evolving industry demands. Specialisms include:
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
- Motion Design
- Animation
- Video Production
- Web Design and more
Career preparation is a key focus, with students curating high-quality portfolios and showreels reflecting their individual styles. Integration of AI into the research stage-students will be better equipped to analyse data, identify design trends, and generate ideas efficiently.
What you will study
Students can expect to develop a solid understanding of the fundamentals of digital design, including principles of graphic design, user experience (UX) design, and interactive design.
The course features live briefs, providing hands-on experience in solving real design challenges and meeting client expectations. Students utilize industry-standard Adobe tools and emerging technologies to align with current practices. A strong emphasis is placed on developing a professional work ethic, fostering imagination and initiative. Students gain expertise in content creation for marketing, social media advertising, promotions and campaigns. The intersection of design with live performance and conceptual art is also explored for a holistic approach to visual communication.
The curriculum is often structured around hands-on, project-based learning. Students may engage in real-world projects to apply theoretical knowledge, enhancing their practical skills and preparing them for the industry.
This forward-thinking course equips graduates for success in employment or further education within the fast-paced world of digital design.
What you can expect
HND Digital Design encourages creativity and innovation. Students can expect to explore various design concepts, experiment with different styles, and develop a personal design aesthetic.
Professional Development
HND Digital Design programs may include elements of professional development, helping students prepare for the workplace. This includes resume building, R+D on specialist pathways and Professional Practice working on Live Projects!
Collaboration and Communication
Digital design often involves collaboration with clients, stakeholders, and other team members. Students can expect to develop effective communication skills and learn how to collaborate on design projects with multidisciplinary teams. The digital design field is dynamic, with constant technological advancements. Students can expect to stay updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to remain competitive in the ever-evolving digital design landscape.
Student Testimonials
I enrolled in the Digital Design course at NWRC, intending to just complete the first year. The program, guided by practical instruction from NWRC's teaching staff, allowed me to creatively experiment and explore different design sectors, giving a taster of a wide scope of design disciplines.
I continued to pursue the two-year program to further refine my skillset and identify my preferred areas within digital design. After completing the HND, I was able to transition into the second year of a Film and Media Production honours degree at university.
Graduating with first-class honors, I continued my studies with a Master by Research degree, while simultaneously setting up my own business in film and photography.
My time at NWRC laid the foundation for my career, and I recommend the course to students unsure of their creative focus. The practical, helpful, and down-to-earth teaching staff, with hands-on industry experience, effectively transfer skills to students. In short - I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing today without my time in NWRC!
Ruth Keough
I chose to study at NWRC for an HND because I had completed a BTEC also at NWRC, I had enjoyed the style and pace of learning and wished to continue further learning. The HND Digital Design course content looked interesting and used a wide range of tools and Adobe software I was interested in and gave me access to hardware and software I otherwise couldn’t afford.
I studied an HND in Interactive Media which was a very hands-on approach to the subject and did a good job at preparing me for client work and real-world application. The tutors at the course at the time were top-notch and always had good advice for learning and real-world application that I remember to this day and helped me in my early days of freelancing and job searching.
I absolutely would recommend NWRC as for most of the practical applications and mindset for my work I learned the fundamentals and foundations of starting there.
Of course, the learning never really stops but it was a great first step and foundation into it all.
David Vaughan
The Digital Design course at NWRC was a great stepping stone for my career path. We got to experiment with a lot of different creative outlets, including graphic design, video editing and animation.
Modules that helped us gain work experience and build our portfolios were invaluable to me and helped me secure a place on the Interaction Design degree at Ulster University.
I learned all the fundamentals of design from this course and would recommend it to anyone who wants a career in the creative industry!
Orlagh McCloskey