89023 Design Studio: Fabrication

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: Design
Credit points: 12 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject provides an umbrella for studios that address a range of design disciplines and approaches. Students select from the studios on offer to build on the conceptual, formal, analytical and critical skills developed in their previous studies or professional experiences. Each studio enables students to experiment, exposing them to diverse possibilities for design. Innovation is driven by the creative application of new and unique combinations of material, process, research strategy and activities. Students in each studio need to be highly motivated, self-directed and good communicators. Depending upon the disciplinary focus, the central activities within different studios may be: the imaginative generation and testing of possibilities; the rigorous development of propositions; or the realisation of well-crafted designed things, services and experiences.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1.	Demonstrate flexibility working with multiple disciplines
2.	Adapt to the contingencies of various projects, learning styles and time constraints
3.	Use design work in the context of persuasion and negotiation
4.	Develop stakeholder empathy
5.	Develop design point of view to justify design decisions, lend coherence to deliverables and persuade.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

Capacity to work flexibly within a team and make a positive contribution to team dynamics (C.2)
Ability to adapt communication style to context (C.3)
Ability to critically appraise, develop or redirect design ideas (I.2)
Ability to actively and independently develop new skills, knowledge and understanding (P.1)
Possession of craft skills appropriate to the discipline (P.3)
A disposition to adopt practices and approaches that embed critical reflection (R.3)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The term CAPRI is used for the five Design, Architecture and Building faculty graduate attributes. The course content, learning strategies and assessment structure is explicitly designed with these in mind.
C = communication and group work
A = attributes and values
P = practical and professional
R = research and critique
I = innovation and creativity

Teaching and learning strategies

Design studios working closely with experienced academics and/or industry professionals. Assessment is typically project focused with continual creative direction from peers and studio leader.

Content (topics)

The aim of this studio is to give students an experience in thinking at a strategic level and position work within a wider social, economic and cultural context. Students will learn to adjust to design problems that continually morph as projects develop, negotiate how design can work collaboratively with other disciplines, engage with committed external stakeholders and have confidence in managing projects. The studio is structured according to the following principles: design briefs present wicked problems with conflicting considerations; briefs have many points of entry, allowing students to propose their own approach; external briefs and stakeholders make the projects real and provide specialised knowledge; project length, group size and discipline mix defined according to project briefs; educators and external stakeholders provide regular, targeted guidance rather than students following a set methodology.

The subject typically runs for 3 hours per week over 11 weeks, with x 3-4 full day workshops. However, class time only accounts for a segment of learning activity. The nature of the assessment tasks and the expectations set by the studio culture mean that students typically work extensively outside class: organising interviews with relevant stakeholders, undertaking field trips and various group meetings and workshops.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Individual research task

Intent:

Depending on the studio choice, you will undertake a specific design brief that either works towards strengthening your portfolio or building skills that are relevant to design practice and industry.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

2, 4 and 5

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

P.1 and R.3

Type:

Project

Groupwork:

Individual

Weight:

40%

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Demonstrated understanding of research context	33	4	R.3
Innovativeness of proposition	33	5	P.1
Quality of reflective learning and expression	34	2	R.3

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Group project