GDC offers a Higher Certificate in Design Thinking with a focus on Jewellery and Accessory Design.

The purpose of the qualification is to lay a foundation in the broad principles and practices of design. The programme introduces learners to creative and visual thinking, design thinking and the design process, visual communication methods, professional practice and the analysis and critique of design solutions. It offers an integrated combination of conceptual and applied skills and prepares learners to become flexible, problem-solving thinkers outside the boundaries of a single design discipline. This Higher Certificate is an elective in Design Thinking with a focus on Jewellery and Accessory Design.

The elective equips learners with the fundamental toolkit to problem solve and develop creative design solutions within the exciting field of  Jewellery and Accessory Design. From concept to creation, students are introduced to the principles of design, drawing, materials and manufacturing processes used in the discipline, including the use of new and disruptive technologies such as rapid prototyping, 3D printing, CNC Milling and the influence of the 4th Industrial revolution. In addition, students acquire the academic reading and writing skills required for further study and qualify with a standalone NQF level 5 qualification.  

Features and Benefits

• Learn critical industry-required skills plus the industry-standard software for visual design including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, with a 1-year student license.

• Learn leading software used in Jewellery and Accessory Design such as  Autodesk Fusion 360. Additional access to the Autodesk Suite including AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk 3Ds Max is also provided for independent learning. 

• Greenside Design Center is an authorised Autodesk training centre. 

• Get a free Office 365 Education A1 license, valid for the duration of your studies.  

• Contact students get free access to our on-campus specialised labs including our Makers Lab with 3D Printing, CNC Machining and Laser Cutting facilities and the VRLab 

• Our learning methods is a technology mediated delivery model, focused on flexibility, accessibility, and academic support to provide the ultimate learning experience without compromising teaching time and quality.  

• Job placement assistance through our industry network and online recruitment portal, exclusively available to The Greenside Design Center 

• Shared industry skills such as Project Management was added to further maximum employment success. 

• Involvement in our institution-wide community engagement project known as 10 percent. Our students across all levels of study and all disciplines, come together to form new multidisciplinary teams, and apply their design expertise to work with a real community. 

• Access to local and international student award entries

• Industry exposure from top industry key players

• Specialized LabMakersLab
• Specialized LabVRLab

The MakersLab gives students the chance to see their designs, ideas and innovations become a reality.

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An interactive space that helps students explore the use of Virtual and Augmented Reality in the visualizing and presentation of data.

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