89024 Design Studio: Figuration
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.
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 may be driven by the creative application of new and unique combinations of material and process, or by the questioning of human contexts and ways of operating. Students in each studio need to be highly motivated and self-directed. Depending upon 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 and experiences.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
| 1. | Demonstrated a professionally advanced level of research utilising relevant primary and secondary techniques |
|---|---|
| 2. | Investigated systems of organisation, and spatial/material/visual languages appropriate to design medium and user experience. |
| 3. | Demonstrated a capacity for flexible thinking in relation to iterative and creative design concept development. |
| 4. | Demonstrated alertness to, and care for, the human and/or environmental impact of the design |
| 5. | Demonstrated sensitivity in selection, use and application of media. |
| 6. | Demonstrated an ability to experiment and critically analyse, refine, synthesise and process ideas to a stage of realisation and presentation, evidenced through iterative process work. |
| 7. | Demonstrated an ability to effectively communicate, actively share, and dialogically develop design ideas. |
| 8. | Communicated design propositions with confidence and clarity, demonstrating a professional level of written, visual and oral presentation skills. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Value for the designer's role as a responsible global citizen, including alertness to the impact of design on environmental ecologies and issues of social justice (A.1)
- A commitment to ethical acknowledgement of sources and the work of others (A.2)
- Professional attitude to clarity, accuracy and effectiveness of communication (C.1)
- Capacity for perceptive concept development (I.1)
- Ability to critically appraise, develop or redirect design ideas (I.2)
- Possession of a developed aesthetic sensibility (P.2)
- Ability to analyse and synthesise complex ideas (R.2)
- A disposition to adopt practices and approaches that embed critical reflection (R.3)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Design Studio: Figuration encourages student learning directed to develop graduate attributes. The course content, learning strategies and assessment structure is explicitly designed with these attributes in mind.
Teaching and learning strategies
This studio aims to develop your skills in independent/self directed/negotiated research and practice. It provides an opportunity to develop and integrate conceptual and practical skill sets, and focuses on the completion of a self-determined and self-generated project. The studio prioritises learning outcomes in: research, critical thinking, creativity, judgment, technical mastery, problem solving and conceptual thinking. The emphasis is on independent/self directed/negotiated projects which are supported by tutorials and group critiques. Work will be evaluated based on aesthetic and conceptual qualities, innovative approaches to the medium, and overall effort.
Each week, in class, you will present design project work to your studio leader and peers. In class you will participate in discussion of all the work presented. Your role in providing feedback to your peers, and in opening yourself to feedback on your own project, will help you to develop good judgment in relation to design development, as well as prepare you to work effectively in design teams in professional practice. During the week, between classes, you will need to significantly develop your project for further presentation, drawing upon ongoing research as well as on the feedback provided in class. There is an expectation of approx 10 hrs of self-directed project development outside class hours each week.
Content (topics)
The Design Studio focusses on development of individual, supervised design projects. Particular projects vary according to the studio offered and the disciplinary focus. Research methods appropriate to the project will be employed to inform material and contextual understandings.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Design Research
| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2 and 3 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.): A.2, I.2, P.2, R.2 and R.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type: | Journal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 25% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | 1. Identification of relevant research questions. 2. Ability to adopt research methods appropriate to the research questions. 3. Investigation of systems of organisation, and spatial/material/visual languages appropriate to design medium and user experience. 4. Ability to interpret research material to produce understanding and/or insight for design. 5. Ethical disclosure of all sources informing the research, and a professional approach to referencing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Design Propositions
| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 3, 4 and 7 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.): A.1, I.1 and I.2 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type: | Design/drawing/plan/sketch | ||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 25% | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | 1. Ability to articulate, and appropriately justify, the values informing design development. 2. Demonstrated capacity for flexible thinking and creativity in concept development. 3. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate, actively share, and dialogically develop design ideas. | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Design Realisation
| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8 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.): A.1, C.1, I.2 and P.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type: | Design/drawing/plan/sketch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | 1. Demonstrated alertness to, and care for, the human and/or environmental impact of the design. 2. Demonstrated sensitivity in selection, use and application of media. 3. Demonstrated aesthetic sensibility in the material and visual languages developed within the design. 4. Demonstrated an ability to experiment and critically analyse, refine, synthesise and process ideas to a stage of realisation and presentation, evidenced through iterative process work. 5. Communication of the design with confidence and clarity, demonstrating a professional level of visual and oral presentation skills. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
Full attendance is expected. If you are unwell or unable to attend, an explanatory email must be sent to the subject coordinator prior to class. Attendance on task presentation days is compulsory. If you are unable to complete your task on time, or you are unable to attend a task presentation, an eRequest asking for Special Consideration must be submitted via your Student Portal.
Required texts
Recommended reading varies depending upon the particular studio selected. Refer to your studio leader for details.