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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Higher Certificate in User Interface Design 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
123609  Higher Certificate in User Interface Design 
ORIGINATOR
The Open Window (Pty) Ltd 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Higher Certificate  Field 02 - Culture and Arts  Design Studies 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 05  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered  EXCO 0729/25  2025-02-04  2028-02-04 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2029-02-04   2032-02-04  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of the Higher Certificate in User Interface Design is to equip learners with introductory knowledge and skills related to entering the digital product design industry. The qualification will provide foundational insights into the potential of a User Interface Design-based study and career path. This qualification is designed to provide the learner with an introductory overview of the entire user interface design process.

The qualification will provide learners with the necessary knowledge and practical skills to create visual user interface designs for basic digital products such as websites and mobile applications. These skills are supported and developed through theoretical and contextual explorations at a foundational level. The qualification will provide school-leavers and young professionals with the opportunity to gain exposure and knowledge in the field of interaction and user interface design which can be developed and built upon through further academic study and/or industry practice.

Upon completion of the qualification, qualifying learners will be able to:
  • Communicate visually by applying the learned skills of drawing, visual perception and composition.
  • Read, reflect on, understand, and process information from a variety of academic and design sources while demonstrating the standard ability to apply critical thinking skills to structure an academically sound essay/practical project supported by the research of others.
  • Demonstrate a broad understanding of the creative industry in terms of business potential, different types of creative specialisations and creative disciplines as professional occupations.
  • Showcase an understanding of user interface design elements and principles, apply related theoretical perspectives on user interface design to complement the learner's practical components, and convey a broad understanding of the workflow and processes involved in user interface design.
  • Gain proficiency in different design applications and software programmes unique to user interface design digital workflows, methods and approaches.
  • Display a basic level of conceptual, creative and practical thinking approaches to plan and organise the design process effectively to complete a project brief.
  • Compile and present work in a professional manner verbally, visually and written.
  • Convey the ability to work both individually as well as collaboratively.

    Rationale:
    The Higher Certificate in User Interface Design aims to broaden the existing qualifications and provide an opportunity for learners to gain insight into the potential of User Interface Design in a one-year introductory qualification. The qualification will provide an alternative access path to a bachelor's degree and thereby widen access to quality education in the creative technology fields. The creative technologies industry is still developing and growing in South Africa and knowledge of the potential career options is often limited. This qualification will equip learners with the necessary exposure, information and skills to pursue a career in this growing field.

    The qualification will attract learners who want more insight before committing to a three-year qualification and learners who want to enter the industry directly after completing the qualification. The qualification will target school-leavers and young professionals who have no prior knowledge or experience in the field of User Interface Design. The qualification does not contain any development or programming components but rather seeks to inform learners how the design process informs the development process of digital products. Learners will also be exposed to the field of User Experience design and its relation to User Interface Design in class discussion, but the core focus of this course is to facilitate the design processes involved in crafting digital products such as desktop and mobile interfaces and applications. It is envisaged that the qualification will have an initial learner intake of between 20 and 30 learners.

    The institution's academic offering is discipline-specific in line with industry requirements of being able to work in a specialised field. The qualification will enable learners to glean insights into the specialist field and acquire the foundational knowledge to study further for a Degree in Creative Technologies or related qualification. The qualification will also provide access to degree studies for learners who require an alternative pathway for admission should they not have achieved a degree exemption.

    Learners exiting the qualification will have foundational knowledge and a basic portfolio - allowing them to contribute as a junior in a digital design team/agency. The qualification aims to instil introductory and sound interaction design principles and techniques in learners while providing them with the skills to view their craft as a viable business.

    Qualifying learners will be exposed to current theoretical and practical trends and technologies that directly inform methods and techniques used in user interface design and seek to provide learners with the necessary perspectives and skills to approach their field of practice. Fundamental practical techniques informing user interface design, such as wireframing, prototyping, user interface components, navigation and appropriate digital workflows, are key technical components taught in the qualification. Learners are also exposed to various design elements and principles to develop visual design skills that will enable them to craft visually appealing user interfaces, as well as the appropriate research methodologies that are involved in planning the Information Architecture of a user interface. Learners will apply the technical skills for User Interface Design.

    The main competitors offer marketing-focused Human-Centred Design and Brand Innovation qualifications respectively. In these qualifications, design is being taught from a primarily marketing-based and creative point of view, to equip teams with individuals who can identify new trends and opportunities in the market and pass on viable concepts to design and development teams.

    Multiple institutions in South Africa offer 4-week short programmes in User Interface and User Experience Design, but these courses often combine UX and UI under one umbrella and do not allow for in-depth knowledge and skills development in the field of User Interface Design, which is a specialised skillset in the creative industries. These courses are also more suited to graphic designers and digital marketers who would like to upskill in the field of User Experience and User Interface Design. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The RPL has an important place in the country's skills development agenda, as represented in seminal documents like the New Growth Path, the National Qualifications Framework Act, the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) and the Human Resource Development Strategy. This is particularly relevant in the context of Creative Practice.

    Learners who wish to enrol, or enrolled learners, may apply for RPL for this qualification. RPL involves the assessment of previously unrecognised skills and knowledge an individual has achieved outside the formal education and training system.

    The institution encourages an individual to continue developing their skills and knowledge through structured education and training towards formal qualifications and improved employment outcomes by recognising their formal learning. The institution ensures that all potential candidates for enrolment and all current learners have access to the institution's Policy for the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy and Procedures.

    RPL for access:
  • Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
  • To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

    RPL for credits:
  • Credit for units of competency will be provided if a candidate who applies for RPL is able to demonstrate learning, skills and knowledge that meet the performance criteria of the units of competency for which the candidate is applying for RPL.
  • Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

    The institution further recognises learning regardless of how and where it was acquired, provided that the learning is relevant to the learning or competency outcomes in a unit or qualification. The institution will investigate and check the currency of the evidence in relation to the qualification on a case-to-case basis.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies.
    Or
  • National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies.
    Or
  • Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 without endorsement. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 5 totalling 120 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 105 Credits:
  • Drawing and Narrative, 15 Credits.
  • Production Essentials, 10 Credits.
  • Process Tools, 20 Credits.
  • User Interface Design, 40 Credits.
  • Applied Digital Techniques, 20 Credits.

    Elective Modules, Level 5, 10 Credits (Select one module):
  • Academic Practice, 10 Credits.
  • Entrepreneurship, 10 Credits.
    And
    Elective Modules, Level 6, 5 Credits (Select one module):
  • Design Systems: Interface Techniques, 5 Credits.
  • CV and Portfolio, 5 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate the ability to communicate visually by applying the learned skills of drawing, visual perception and composition.
    2. Demonstrate the ability to read, reflect on, understand, and process information from a variety of academic and design sources while demonstrating the standard ability to apply critical thinking skills to structure an academically sound essay / practical project supported by the research of others.
    3. Demonstrate a broad understanding of the creative industry in terms of business potential, different types of creative specialisations and creative disciplines as professional occupations.
    4. Showcase an understanding of user interface design elements and principles, apply related theoretical perspectives on user interface design to complement the learner's practical components, and convey a broad understanding of the workflow and processes involved in user interface design.
    5. Understand and gain proficiency in different design applications and software programmes unique to user interface design digital workflows, methods and approaches.
    6. Display a basic level of conceptual, creative and practical thinking approaches to plan and organise the design process effectively to complete a project brief
    7. Demonstrate the ability to compile and present work in a professional manner (verbally, visually and written).
    8. Demonstrate the ability to work both individually as well as collaboratively. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The criteria can be given as a comprehensive set derived from the Level Descriptors.
    1. Compile a drawing portfolio consisting of several drawing projects that convey that the learner can apply standard skills related to drawing, visual perception and composition.
    2. Research a broad topic, critically reflect on the topic and be able to articulate this information in an academic essay on the topic, conveying comprehension and understanding.
    3. Find, read and critically evaluate different types of creative specialisations and their related career potentials, and formulate a report on the potential career path in context to the creative discipline and industry.
    4. Plan, produce and analyse user interface design elements such as wireframes, components and prototypes that are informed by demonstrated research processes and techniques and user interface design principles.
    5. Utilise the functions and associated tools in the design software and digital production workflow when designing for user interfaces.
    6. Produce competent design products that meet specific brief requirements, and present the products in a professional manner within the portfolio.
    7. Develop a body of work that conveys a broad understanding of User Interface techniques.
    8. Provide and receive peer feedback throughout the course and apply individual formative feedback throughout the year.

    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
    Assessment Policies reflect the institution's alignment with the following principles of a good assessment as prescribed by SAQA in the document, Criteria and guidelines for assessment of NQF registered unit standards and qualifications.

    The institution is committed to providing education that is fair, ethically sound, reasonable, transparent, consistent, and in line with all relevant national standards. As such, the institution commits to instilling the principles of fairness, egalitarianism, transparency, reliability, and efficiency in all its learners. Assessment tasks are well-designed and reflect the programme's outcomes, content, and assessment criteria.
    The qualification is assessed based on integrated assessment principles whereby learning outcomes, which have a defined purpose including specific and critical cross-field outcomes are assessed simultaneously. A combination of formative assessment during the learning and teaching and summative assessment based on judgement of achievement during and at the end of the qualification.

    Formative Assessment:
    The learner's ongoing competencies in all core and fundamental subjects that form part of this qualification are assessed during each term and support the teaching and learning process of learners.

    The following formative assessment tools are employed in the qualification:
  • Practical assignments.
  • Oral reports and discussions.
  • Applied research assignments.
  • Practical exercises and demonstrations.
  • Short answer questions.
  • Tests and theoretical assignments.
  • Audio-visual presentations.
  • Critique sessions and feedback.
  • Academic research assignments; group workshops

    Feedback and informal assessment are conducted through periodic group presentations and/or critique sessions as well as one-on-one critique sessions with programme co-ordinators and subject specialists.

    Summative Assessment:
    Each subject and each term of this qualification comprises a measure of internal, summative assessment.

    In line with the rules of this qualification, the following fundamental subjects are assessed at the end of each term.
  • Fundamentals: Drawing and Narrative; Unique identifiers (UID) Production Essentials; UID Process Tools.
    (Each fundamental subject must be passed with a minimum mark of 50% for the full course).
  • Core: User Interface Design; Applied Digital Techniques
    (Each core subject must be passed with a minimum mark of 50% for the full course).
  • Elective modules: Academic Practice; Entrepreneurship
    (The learners can select between Academic Practice or Entrepreneurship. The chosen subject must be passed with a minimum mark of 50% for the full course).
  • Elective modules: Design Systems: Interface Techniques; CV and Portfolio
    (The learners can select between the two choice modules. a minimum mark of 50% is required to pass the module course).

    Examination:
    Internal examiners are responsible for assessing learners' final practical output for:
    Fundamentals: Drawing and Narrative; UID Production Essentials; UID Process Tools
    Choice subjects: Academic Practice; Entrepreneurship
    Choice modules: Design Systems: Interface Techniques; CV and Portfolio

    Assessment of Work Integrated Learning (WIL):
    Scenario and project-based learning approaches are an integral part of the overall pedagogy and programme design and form the basis of work-integrated learning. This is particularly important as it gives learners an introduction to the types of projects and processes they will have to follow as part of their professional careers.

    The integration of scenario and project-based learning provides the learner with an early and ongoing orientation towards the world of work and familiarises the learner with how theoretical skills fit into and apply to its associated professional context.

    All projects/briefs reflect industry-related projects which guide learners to prepare them for the workplace and allow them to apply their skills to practice-based projects. This manifests in various ways that may include but is not limited to: Once-off or recurring actual client engagements through partnerships with industry/Fictitious client requirements and problem scenarios/ Deliverables that match industry formats, standards, workflows and expectations/Facilitation/training to use and apply relevant software and tools used in the associated industry of focus/Formal presentations by learners in pitch-like scenarios.

    Through the Entrepreneurship module, learners will also be introduced to Work Directed Theoretical Learning (WDTL), as the module focuses on specifics surrounding the workplace and processes as applicable to individual fields of practice. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualifications listed below are typical of the certificate courses available internationally that focus on User Interface Design. While many include staple elements of user interface design, many tend to veer towards the programming side, focusing on coding, and others tend to focus on User Experience. Very few focus specifically on the craft of design within the context of user interface design.

    Country: Canada
    Institution: Humber Polytechnic
    Qualification Title: User Experience (UX) Design
    Duration: 3 semesters

    Purpose:
    Humber's User Experience (UX) Design graduate certificate simulates the interdisciplinary approaches needed to achieve an innovation process with a focus on design desirability, technological feasibility and business viability. In two semesters, learners will be prepared to innovate by problem-finding through design research, problem-understanding through synthesis, and problem-solving through design and prototyping experiences. Learners will learn how to create valuable courses of action by generating design problem hypotheses, structured design process plans, compelling UX deliverables and persuasive arguments.

    Learners will be taught human-centred design methods and rhetoric that ground their design in the needs of the public. In addition, learners will learn how to use interaction design and design systems through industry-standard quality assurance methods, and how to design and implement user interfaces to follow corporate strategies. A variety of conceptual and practical work will help learners develop effective UX design skills.

    As a user experience designer, learners will employ the work practice of prototyping concepts to describe ways to integrate digital services with material products and environments. As a UX researcher, learners will discover insights through usability testing and apply them to create value for corporate clients and their customers. Toward the conclusion of this qualification, learners will convert acquired skills and achievements into a portfolio of design products that will help learners launch a career as a UX design professional. This qualification fosters the practical discipline, relevance and currency essential in the contemporary, ever-growing UX job market using in-class studio spaces, case studies, peer-to-peer learning, live client work and field experience. Graduates will have engaged in varied and comprehensive workplace experiences by the end of the three semesters.

    Learning Outcomes:
    Upon successful completion of the qualification, a graduate will:
  • Facilitate team processes towards effective completion of user experience design projects.
  • Represent a linked sequence of observed evidence, collected data, qualitative research findings, interpretations and proposed design solutions to stakeholders to solicit support and commitment.
  • Assess requirements of a user experience design project, to increase corporate acceptance, usability and effectiveness.
  • Present persuasive arguments in support of user experience projects which balance user needs with business objectives.
  • Design a complex user experience project which considers a business's uncertainty and plans for multiple outcomes.
  • Manage projects using current and proven methodologies to coordinate the work of a multi-disciplinary user experience design team.
  • Adapt recommendations and courses of action in accordance with explicit and implicit cultural, professional and ethical constructs involved in solving user experience design problems.
  • Factor and refactor research methods and insight-generating frameworks to facilitate, inform and guide team problem-solving.
  • Resolve uncertainties and create shared purpose with stakeholders using iterative prototyping.
  • Evaluate, adjust and communicate design decisions in alignment with financial, technical, and usability factors.

    Modules:
  • Introduction to Design for Interaction
  • Product Management
  • Introduction to User Experience Design comparable to User Interface Design
  • Special Topics in User Experience Design 1 comparable to User Interface Design
  • Information Architecture
  • Interaction Design
  • Design Research
  • Usability Testing
  • Interaction Design Studio 1
  • Professional Practice comparable to Academic Practice
  • Interaction Design Studio 2
  • Special Topics in User Experience Design 2
  • Product Design comparable to Design Systems: Interface Techniques
  • Ethnography and Co-Creation
  • Service Design
  • Field Experience - User Experience (UX) Design comparable to User Interface Design and Academic Practice
  • Capstone

    Work-Integrated Learning:
    Work-Integrated Learning courses serve as the vital link between academic learning and real-world application. Within this framework, learners actively participate in the Professional Practice course, equipping them with the necessary skills and confidence to secure their own field experience. Throughout this journey, a dedicated career & work-integrated learning advisor offers personalized guidance and support.

    In Semester 3, learners immerse themselves in the Field Experience course, committing 160 hours of practical application within the field. Whether pursuing paid or unpaid opportunities, all experiences undergo approval by your career and work-integrated learning advisor to ensure relevance .

    Country: Ireland
    Institution: Dundalk Institute of Technology
    Qualification Title: Certificate in User Experience (UX) Design
    NQF Level: NFQ Level: 7
    Credits: 40
    Duration: 1 Year part-time
    Entry Requirements
  • Six grades at O6 or H7 in Leaving Certificate or minimum points score of 200
  • Applicants who have significant relevant experience in the technology or media sectors can also apply under the Institute's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The RPL policy allows for the recognition of both formal and informal learning, non-accredited personal and professional education and work-based learning.

    Purpose:
    The aim of the Certificate in User Experience (UX) Design is to give learners extensive knowledge, understanding and competencies across a wide range of user experience design principles and practices including User Experience design theory, creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation, digital visual communication and web design fundamentals. As part of product design, user experience (UX) designers use creativity and computer skills to create products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences to users. This involves the research and design of the entire user experience of a product, including aspects of user research, user journeys, design thinking techniques, usability, prototyping and branding.

    The aim of the Certificate in User Experience Design (UXD) is to provide a solid grounding in researching target audiences, understanding the role of user research and the creation of UX design across divergent digital mediums. The theoretical grounding will complement their practical skill set, in turn benefiting their overall capabilities as a creative practitioner The user experience (UX) design will also encourage enterprise and the development of entrepreneurial skills, behaviours and attitudes. In addition, learners will also be encouraged to consider user experience issues from a variety of cultural and accessibility perspectives.

    The qualification will give learners extensive knowledge, understanding and competencies across a wide range of UXD principles and practises including UXD theory, creativity, entrepreneurship, digital visual communication and web design fundamentals. This one-year, part-time programme is ideal for anyone wanting to switch their current career path to become a UXD professional. It will encourage graduates to become idea-driven UX designers competent in communicating through a variety of mediums. The qualification is delivered in the evenings and fully online making it possible for learners to attend classes from anywhere in Ireland.

    By the end of the qualification, learners will be equipped to find employment in the following broad categories: User Experience (UX) Designer, Product Designer, Digital Designer, Graphic Designer or Web Designer. Participants will acquire skills in industry-standard software for UX Design and apply various human-computer principles to develop an online portfolio.

    Graduates of the qualification will have a detailed knowledge and understanding of both the creative and developmental strands within the UX design discipline and will be skilled in the use of a range of digital media. They will be equipped to follow career paths in the following broad categories:
  • UX designer - providing information architecture, high-quality designs, graphics, mock-ups, prototypes, and layouts for websites and applications.
  • Product designer - use their design skills and technical knowledge to improve the way that existing products work and look.
  • Graphic/digital designer- designs graphic content and layout for both print and digital platforms.
  • Web designer/front-end developer - integrating visual elements into web pages.
  • UI designer - User interface (UI) designers work closely with user experience (UX) designers and other design specialists. Their job is to make sure that every page and every step a user will experience in their interaction with the finished product will conform to the overall vision created by UX designers.

    Qualification structure:
    The qualification comprises five taught modules over two semesters and a 70-hour work placement within the web/digital sector.

    Compulsory Modules
  • Digital Visual Communication comparable to Applied Digital Techniques.
  • UX Web Design Fundamentals comparable to Design Systems: Interface Techniques.
  • User Experience (UX) Concepts comparable to User Interface Design.
  • UX Front-End Development for Web.
  • Entrepreneurship for Digital Industries comparable to Entrepreneurship.
  • Work placement for Digital Industries.

    Similarities:
  • The Dundalk Institute of Technology (DIT) and the South African (SA) qualifications are offered over one year of full-time study.
  • The DIT qualification requires applicants who completed the six grades at O6 or H7 in Leaving Certificate which is similar to the National Senior Certificate in the SA qualification.
  • The purpose of the DIT and SA qualifications is to provide learners with a strong balance of technical knowledge and theory in usability, digital design and branding.

    Differences:
  • The DIT qualification is registered at level 7 on the level NFQ whereas the SA qualification is registered at level 5 on the level SA NQF.
  • The DIT qualification has 40 credits whereas the SA qualification has 120 credits. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Higher Certificate in Web and User Interface Design Practice, NQF Level 5.
  • Higher Certificate in Design Techniques, NQF Level 5.
  • Higher Certificate in Graphic Design, NQF Level 5.
  • Higher Certificate in Graphic Web Design, NQF Level 5.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Diploma in Graphic Design, NQF Level 6.
  • Diploma in Interaction Design, NQF Level 6.
  • Bachelor of Arts in Information Design, NQF Level 7.
  • Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media Design, NQF Level 7.
  • Bachelor of Experience Design, NQF Level 7.
  • Bachelor of Creative Technologies, NQF Level 7.

    Diagonal Articulation
  • Higher Occupational Certificate: Interactive Media Designer, NQF Level 5. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. The Open Window (Pty) Ltd 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.