Diploma in Exhibition Design and Visitor Experience
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in exhibition design and visitor experience. 8 modules covering spatial design, museum lighting, display cases, graphics and signage, visitor experience, universal accessibility and production and installation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Exhibition Design and Visitor Experience — studying from South Africa
Classic vehicle restoration is a niche but active interest in South Africa, supported by owners' clubs, specialist workshops and historic motorsport events. Restoration work draws on skills in mechanical engineering, materials and heritage conservation. Specialists source parts, rebuild engines and conserve bodywork for vintage and classic cars and motorcycles. Clubs and heritage organisations help maintain the community and promote conservation practice.
Fees for South Africa: R 20 400 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the professional bodies in South Africa for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any South African body, so they are not official state degrees. Restoration work is not generally a regulated title, though ECSA registration applies to engineering roles and the SABS covers relevant standards. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by clients, employers or the relevant body, so check with them first.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in restoration and classic vehicles?
The classic vehicle sector is largely made up of specialist workshops, collectors and small firms that value demonstrable craftsmanship and reputation over formal credentials. A private qualification may add technical depth to your profile, but its impact depends on individual clients and employers. Speak to people in the field to see how they would regard it.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. You get an assigned technical tutor, can pay in instalments, and may seek employer sponsorship. Ask SEIUM about time-zone and workload details before committing.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Design exhibition spaces for large-format objects.
Plan museum lighting with conservation criteria.
Specify display cases and in-gallery protection systems.
Develop graphic and wayfinding systems.
Design the visitor experience as a whole.
Apply universal accessibility criteria.
Plan the production and installation of an exhibition.
Who it's for
- Exhibition designers.
- Museographers.
- Museum lighting designers.
- Signage and graphic designers.
- Exhibition production coordinators.
- Visitor experience consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into museums and interpretation centres.
What you'll work with
- UNE-EN 16163 (conservation of cultural heritage: lighting of exhibitions)
- UNE-EN 15999-1 (conservation of cultural heritage: display cases)
- UNE 170001-1 (universal accessibility: DALCO criteria)
- UNE-EN 17210 (accessibility of the built environment)
- Spanish Technical Building Code DB-SUA (safety of use and accessibility)
- Spanish Technical Building Code DB-SI (fire safety)
- Royal Decree 513/2017, RIPCI (fire protection installations)
- Vectorworks
- SketchUp
- DIALux evo
- Twinmotion
- Adobe Illustrator
8 modules
1.1Functional brief of the exhibition1.2Circulation and visitor flows1.3Scale and proportion with large objects1.4Plans, elevations and sections1.5Exhibition furniture1.6Plinths and platforms for vehicles1.7Loads on floor slabs1.8Viewpoints and perspectives1.9Zoning and rhythm of the visitor route1.10Practical exercise: layout plan of a gallery
2.1LED sources and colour rendering2.2Colour temperature2.3Illuminance levels and annual exposure2.4Ultraviolet and infrared radiation2.5Contrast and visual hierarchy2.6Lighting glossy bodywork2.7DALI control and dimming2.8Energy efficiency2.9Maintenance of the installation2.10Lab: lighting measurement of a gallery
3.1Microclimate in display cases3.2Inert materials and the Oddy test3.3Security and locks3.4Anchoring and anti-vibration systems3.5Vehicles without fluids or connected batteries3.6Protection from the public3.7Barriers and distances3.8Dust control and cleaning3.9Environmental monitoring3.10Workshop: technical specification of a display case
4.1Graphic identity of the exhibition4.2Typography and readability4.3Orientation and wayfinding4.4Information hierarchy4.5Materials and substrates4.6Colour contrast4.7Pictograms4.8Large-format graphics4.9Production and installation4.10Practical exercise: signage system for a museum
5.1Visitor journey and touchpoints5.2Empathy maps5.3Emotional design5.4Rest and comfort areas5.5Physical interactivity5.6Driving simulators5.7Gamification5.8Services: shop and café5.9Satisfaction measurement5.10Case study: experience map of a motor museum
6.1DALCO criteria6.2Heights and reach ranges6.3Induction loops6.4Tactile models and plans6.5Easy-to-read texts in the gallery6.6Sign language and subtitling6.7Accessibility for autistic people6.8Inclusive evacuation6.9Accessibility regulations6.10Lab: accessibility audit of a gallery
7.1Technical specifications7.2Budgets and tenders7.3Vehicle entry and manoeuvring7.4Protection of floors and finishes7.5Safety and fire protection7.6Sustainability and reuse7.7Installation schedule7.8On-site quality control7.9Dismantling and storage7.10Practical exercise: installation plan including vehicle entry
8.1Analysis of the space8.2Design concept8.3Floor plan and routes8.4Lighting design8.5Furniture and display cases8.6Graphics and signage8.7Accessibility plan8.8Budget and renders8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 100% online on SEIUM's campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There is no fixed timetable: you progress at your own pace within each intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is Vectorworks, SketchUp, DIALux evo, Twinmotion and Adobe Illustrator, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: measuring illuminance and UV radiation in a gallery, auditing the accessibility of a visitor route and manoeuvring vehicles into a gallery. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: UNE-EN 16163, UNE-EN 15999-1, UNE 170001-1, UNE-EN 17210, Spanish Technical Building Code DB-SUA, Spanish Technical Building Code DB-SI, Royal Decree 513/2017 (RIPCI).
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Vectorworks, SketchUp, DIALux evo, Twinmotion and Adobe Illustrator, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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