Design Process and Systems Course Descriptor

Course Summary

This course explores common design practices, principles, and vocabulary, introducing the design process as a method of inquiry and problem solving through studio projects. It emphasises the importance of an awareness of audience and context in the creation of meaningful communications and experiences.

This is a visual studies course offering students an opportunity to discover and search out basic principles inherent in design processes and systems. It will explore the practice of design as an iterative process, giving students an understanding of the value of systems thinking and the importance of feedback and exchange as a means for assessing the quality of design’s effectiveness in communicating social and cultural research.

Students will learn and experiment with a range of research and design methods to help them better understand and anticipate human intentions, actions, and experiences. Based on ongoing research, they will engage in human-centred research practices as a means through which to understand the social and cultural implications of design and space.

Course Aims

The course aims to:

• Explore the design process in its many modes.
• Analyse cultural and contextual situations in which design solutions operate, and apply systems theory and practice to real life goals.
• Introduce various sketching, brainstorming and feedback methods used in the generation and evaluation of design concepts.
• Study the potential of research, design process, and visualisation methods to define design intent and evaluate results.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

Subject Specific Skills

Transferable and Professional Skills

Teaching and Learning

Teaching and learning strategies for this course will include: 

A minimum of 36 contact hours, typically to include interactive group teaching, co-curriculars, individual meetings, and in-class presentations and exams.

Course information and supplementary materials are available on the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Students will receive individualised developmental feedback on their work for this course.

Students are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Students are also expected to manage their directed learning and independent study in support of the course.

Assessment

Formative

Students will be formatively assessed in class through class activities, and during office hours. Formative assessments are ones that do not count towards the final grade but will provide students with developmental feedback.

Summative

Feedback

Students will receive feedback in a variety of ways: written (including via email correspondence); oral (within office hours or on an ad hoc basis) and indirectly through class discussion.

Feedback is provided on summative assessment and is made available to the student either via email, the VLE or another appropriate method.

Indicative Reading

Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students; the indicative reading list provided below is used as part of the approval/modification process only.

Books 

Berger, J. (2008). Ways of Seeing, London: Penguin Classics

McLuhan, M. & Fiore, Q. (1967). The Medium is the Massage, London: Penguin Books

McKenzie, W. (2015). The Beach Beneath the Street, London: Verso Books
Munari, B. (2016). Square Circle Triangle, New York: Princeton Architectural Press

Indicative Topics

Students will typically study the following topics: 

• Gestalt theory
• Design Systems
• Publication design
• Typography and layout 
• Prototyping and editing
• Psychogeography
• Mapping and problem solving