Media Design School partners with DNA Design to help guide the next generation of New Zealand design talent

With both organisations co-located at 10 Madden Street in Wynyard Quarter, DNA Design is running a series of lunch and learn workshops with our year two students to provide practical real-world insight into: User Experience research, why it’s important in the design process, and what tools and artefacts can be used throughout the research process to design and deliver an exceptional user experience. 

These workshops are intended for industry to impart knowledge and best practice back to our students, so that the next generation of designers are ready and in tune current industry practice.

“It’s vitally important to ensure that the content our students are being taught is relevant and future focused. We're very grateful to have DNA Design impart knowledge and best practice into the Bachelor of Media Design programme, so that the next generation of designers are ready and in tune with current industry practice.” - Jim Murray (Programme Director, Bachelor of Media Design)

Designers and UX specialists will be guiding our students (alongside lecturers) for these workshops, presenting the following topics and running the workshops directly after:

• The first workshop was held on 22nd February, which was an intro to our design process in general, that explored the different types of design roles, where research fits in and why it’s important. This was to assist students in defining a clear scope and focus for their projects.
• The next workshop on 2nd March delved deeper into the research side of things: how it is done by industry, the different approaches and what can be used to augment the journey, with students practising this through hypotheses and research questions.
• The final workshop on 9th March involves running a user testing session. This will have the students set up the environment, build rapport, and learn good practice such as avoiding the use of leading questions, through role playing and actioning feedback.

Simon Nicholls, Interactive UX Lecturer at Media Design School says “With DNA Design being such close neighbours, it’s great for them to share their extensive experience and knowledge with our students who are able to take tangible insights from these workshops and apply them directly to their year two projects.” 

DNA Design will also be providing group mentoring sessions later in the year for students working on their final-year projects in Interactive UX. Students will benefit from guidance from DNA's designers as they shape their final submissions, highlighting the skills and knowledge students have learned throughout their Bachelor of Media Design.

Romain Perin, UX Design Director at DNA Design, says “It’s great to connect with the next generation of design talent to share our experiences of working in an agency across a broad range of client landscapes.” 

Media Design School is delighted that DNA Design is providing these opportunities for our students to allow them to reach their potential and apply the current industry skills they need to become the best designers they can.