Contemporary Design Issues
Unit code: HDC005
| Credit points | 12.5 Credit Points |
| Duration | 1 Semester |
| Contact hours | 36 Hours per Semester |
| Campus | Prahran, Sarawak |
| Prerequisites | Nil |
Related course(s)
A unit of study in the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (DCOM10), Bachelor of Design (Digital Media Design) (DDIG10), Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) (DINDUS10), Bachelor of Design (Interior Design) (DINTER10) and the Bachelor of Design / Bachelor of Business double degrees.
Aims and objectives
This unit aims to explore key issues in contemporary design and media practice and their relation to social, economic and political contexts. Students will be introduced to appropriate research and writing methodologies and apply these skills to design practice and projects.
At the completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Investigate and analyse design and media issues in relation to social, economic and political contexts using primary sources;
- Articulate a range of contemporary issues related to design and media practice;
- Use a body of relevant critical theory in the form of an argument and apply it to design and/or media practice;
- Develop a cohesive argument about a design issue (visual or written) that articulates a point of view, suitable for a published (professional) journal;
- Participate in online discussions addressing design issues.
Teaching methods
This unit incorporates lectures and screenings, online tutorials, online discussion groups and excursions. Students will be required to work both collaboratively and individually on assignment work.
This subject will be conducted as a set of lectures and screeings, synchronous (real time) online tutorials and occasional excursions in the tutorial time slot. Lectures will be made available as video on demand and for pod casting, but students are required to attend screenings or arrange to view the audio-visual matwerial in their own time. Set readings will be available online through the library. Students will be required to read set texts, research independently and collaboratively to support online tutorials and project work.
Students will participate in a variety of research and writing activities that stimiulate debate and thinking about contemporary issues. They will be involved in project-based research activities. Students will be required to prepare by reading set texts for tutorials.
Assessment
Note: Percentage weightings are indicative. See Unit Briefs for full assessment details.
Issue Assignment, 1500 words - 40%
Issue Assignment, 1500 words - 40%
Weekly tasks and contribution to online discussions - 60%
Generic skills outcomes
Swinburne University works to produce higher education graduates who are capable in their chosen profession. Learners bring to Swinburne a diverse wealth of experiences and graduate with individual understandings, abilities and attitudes.
Within this context, HDCD005 Contemporary Design Issues aims to provide students with the following attributes:
- Are capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas;
- Are entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community;
- Operate effectively and ethically in work and community situations;
- Are aware of local and international environment in which they will be contributing.
Content
The unit will explore a wide range of thematic areas that may include discussions on topics such as:
- The role of design, new technologies and new materials in 21st century;
- Cross/inter-disciplinary practices in design and new media;
- Key contemporary practitioners;
- Design philosophies;
- Aesthetics in the 21st century;
- Design for environmental, global and social sustainability;
- Concepts of user-centred design.
Reading materials
Cameron, Allan 2008, Modular Narratives in Contemporary Cinema, Palgrave MacMillan, New York
Fuad-Luke, Alastair 2002, ecoDesign: The Sourcebook, Chronicle & Thames and Hudson
Glickfeld, Elizabeth 2010, ‘On Logophobia’, Meanjin, 69, 5, pp.26-32
Lowgren, Jonas 2008, ‘Five Things I Believe about the Aesthetics of Interaction Design’, Dagstuhl Seminar Proceedings The Study of Visual Aesthetics in Human-Computer Interaction. pp. 1–8
McDonough, William & Braungart, Michael 2002, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way we Make Things, North Star Press, New York
Maeda, John 2006, The Laws of Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. & London
Mau, Bruce (ed.) 2004, Massive Change, Phaidon, London
Polak, Paul ‘Design for the Other 90%’ in Smith, C 2007, Design for the Other 90%, Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian, New York.
Roberts, L 2006, Good: Ethics of Graphic Design, Lausanne Switzerland, AVA Publishing
Sudjic, Deyan 2008, The Language of Things, Allen Lane, London
A complete guide to styles for bibliographies and referencing is available at:
http://www.swin.edu.au/lib/guides/harvard_system.pdf
Fuad-Luke, Alastair 2002, ecoDesign: The Sourcebook, Chronicle & Thames and Hudson
Glickfeld, Elizabeth 2010, ‘On Logophobia’, Meanjin, 69, 5, pp.26-32
Lowgren, Jonas 2008, ‘Five Things I Believe about the Aesthetics of Interaction Design’, Dagstuhl Seminar Proceedings The Study of Visual Aesthetics in Human-Computer Interaction. pp. 1–8
McDonough, William & Braungart, Michael 2002, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way we Make Things, North Star Press, New York
Maeda, John 2006, The Laws of Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. & London
Mau, Bruce (ed.) 2004, Massive Change, Phaidon, London
Polak, Paul ‘Design for the Other 90%’ in Smith, C 2007, Design for the Other 90%, Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian, New York.
Roberts, L 2006, Good: Ethics of Graphic Design, Lausanne Switzerland, AVA Publishing
Sudjic, Deyan 2008, The Language of Things, Allen Lane, London
A complete guide to styles for bibliographies and referencing is available at:
http://www.swin.edu.au/lib/guides/harvard_system.pdf
