Spatial Design Major - Bachelor of Design

The Spatial Design major is a contemporary multidisciplinary programme that explores space through interior and architectural design, exhibition, event and performance design, visualisation and virtual environments.

At AUT, you’ll analyse and interpret existing sites and conditions to build a sense of place, visualising immersive spaces and helping others visualise the space. You’ll learn to work with what already exists – refitting, reusing, adapting, and attending to materials, surfaces, patterns, fabrication and connections. You’ll frequently collaborate with others to develop coherent, customised and conceptually driven spaces.

AUT spatial design Facebook page


This is part of the Bachelor of Design.

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Start date: 2021

If you're a full-time student, you normally complete 120 points each year (360 points for the entire degree). In each year you study core compulsory papers within your major and selected minor.

List of minors

Year 1

Through Fabrication Studio I in the first semester and Spatial Design Studio I in the second semester, you learn conceptual thinking, and the making skills and communication skills to become a spatial designer. The papers Theory I, Digital Techniques I, and Spatial Drawing further your creative thinking ability and visualising skills.

You study the following papers

You also study one paper from your chosen minor.

Year 2

You study the following papers

You also study two papers from your chosen minor.

Year 3

You study the following papers

You also study one paper from your chosen minor.

Spatial design project

In the second semester you complete a design project in Spatial Design Studio III, integrating knowledge from the minor, Spatial Theory III and the building expertise provided by earlier papers. You have the opportunity to exhibit your design project at the AUT School of Art and Design festival, showcasing your work to key representatives from media, industry and the design professions.

Recent projects included:

  • Test pod science pavilions at Wynyard Quarter
  • New entry design proposals for Auckland Hospital
  • Urban and landscape design proposals for the Aotea Quarter with Auckland Council
  • New reception facilities and wayfinding strategies for Vision West in Glen Eden
  • New gallery spaces at Auckland Museum

More details about papers in this programme

Detailed programme structure and paper outlines (Blackboard)

Search for a paper (Arion)

Email artbox@aut.ac.nz

Enrolment in papers is subject to meeting all requirements and availability of papers.

  • Interior/building design
  • Design for theatre, film, television or digital environments
  • Urban design
  • Event design
  • Furniture and object design
spatial-design-career-sheet.jpg

Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.

Spatial Design Careers

Key features
  • Hands-on, studio-based learning
  • Includes authentic spatial design projects
  • Work with full-sized prototypes, installations, moving images and emergent technologies
See yourself as
  • Fascinated with the spaces people live, work and play in
  • Someone with a love of exploring and experimenting
  • A thinker, maker or planner
Hana Stay
Frank Liu
Belinda Tran
Matangireia Mita Ngarua Yates-Francis
Yana Nafysa Dombrowsky-M'Baye
Hana Stay
Great graduatesHana StayInterior DesignerMaster of Design
Bachelor of Art and Design (Honours)
Bachelor of DesignThe design community at AUT was the highlight of her studies, says AUT spatial design alumna Hana Stay who is currently working as an interior designer.The design community at AUT was the highlight of her studies, says AUT spatial design alumna Hana Stay who is currently working as an interior designer. Hana has certainly made the most of the many opportunities available to her at AUT, and her passion for spatial design has been recognised at the prestigious Best Awards.
Frank Liu
Great graduatesFrank LiuInterior Designer, Warren + Mahoney ArchitectsMaster of Design
Bachelor of DesignThe studio culture was the highlight of his time at AUT, says art and design alumnus Frank Liu who is now an interior designer at Warren + Mahoney Architects.The studio and community culture was the highlight of his time at AUT, says art and design alumnus Frank Liu who studied a Bachelor of Design in Spatial Design, followed by a Master of Design. After completing his Master of Design in 2018, Frank has now turned his passion for spatial design into a rewarding career; working as an interior designer at Warren + Mahoney Architects.
Belinda Tran
Great graduatesBelinda TranBachelor of Design
Certificate in Science and TechnologyShe would love to use her design skills to make a difference, says Belinda Tran who is currently completing a Bachelor of Design in Spatial Design at AUT.She would love to use her design skills to make a difference, says Belinda Tran who is currently completing a Bachelor of Design in Spatial Design at AUT. Her goal is to be involved in spatial projects that highlight and support those with an impairment. As someone who is hearing impaired herself, she would like to use her design skills to make a difference for others who have an impairment.
Matangireia Mita Ngarua Yates-Francis
Great graduatesMatangireia Mita Ngarua Yates-FrancisBachelor of Design
Master of Architecture (Professional)He was inspired by the vision of AUT’s architecture programmes, says Master of Architecture (Professional) student Matangireia Mita Ngarua Yates-Francis.He was inspired by the vision of AUT’s architecture programmes, says Matangireia Mita Ngarua Yates-Francis who completed a Bachelor of Design in Spatial Design in 2019 and is currently enrolled in the Master of Architecture (Professional). Raised in Rotorua, Matangireia says he is grateful that his parents and whānau made sure that he and his siblings were surrounded by Māori culture and the arts.
Yana Nafysa Dombrowsky-M'Baye
Great graduatesYana Nafysa Dombrowsky-M'BayeIndigenous Program Intern, Sundance Institute, Los AngelesBachelor of DesignThey wanted a degree that would challenge them and open up new ways to grow their creativity, says spatial design alumna Yana Nafysa Dombrowsky-M'Baye.Spatial design alumna Yana Nafysa Dombrowsky-M'Baye was looking for a degree that would challenge them and open up new ways to grow their creativity. In the final year at AUT Yana was tossing up between taking on postgraduate study or getting a taste of the real world. Then, Yana came across the AUT Internz programme and the opportunity to work for the Sundance Institute in Los Angeles.

The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.

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