Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Please note: this unit is only available to First Year DE40 students.

The act of designing is a common link between the disciplines of architecture, industrial design, interior design, and landscape architecture. This unit offers a broad and generic introduction to the act of designing in a cross-discipline environment, and is therefore offered at the commencement of the course.

Aims

This unit is designed to expose you to a range of experiences not possible within the confines of the usual university routine. It also calls upon you to exert physical and mental efforts that may be different in degree and nature to your usual coursework. Through these opportunities this unit seeks to introduce to you the ways of thinking like a designer.

Objectives

By the completion of this unit you should be able to demonstrate the following capabilities at beginning level:
1. critically reflect on design theory and activities
2. use visual representation techniques for thinking and communicating
3. apply an iterative and explorative design process in a multi-disciplinary team context
4. design and produce well resolved designs that address the supplied design brief

Content

Topics covered in this unit include:

• design process
  
• practical, aesthetic and symbolic function
  
• representation and communication of ideas
  
• problem solving strategies
  
• idea generation
  
• team work and team dynamics

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit uses exercises to enhance your perceptions of the natural and human made environments in a problem based learning context. It is block taught over several weeks during the middle of the semester and will include students from a range of design disciplines participating intensively over several days. You'll work individually and in cross-disciplinary teams in a stimulating and immersive environment.

Assessment

Assessment is spread over three components: two design projects and one design journal. To help you glean the most you can from the experience you are required to prepare an assignment (design journal) that reflects on the lecture programme and your design project activities from the workshop/studio. You will record, and analyse your activities and experiences in your personal notebook during the workshop/studio, such that they can inform later reflective activities and journal production.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Blackboard site for this unit.Formative and summative feedback will be given at key times throughout the program to help you get the most from the problem-based learning projects.

Assessment name: Design Journal
Description: A4 journal containing lecture notes, visualisation experiments, design project records and reflections.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 3
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid-semester

Assessment name: Design
Description: Create a physical structure to communicate the required theme using the supplied materials.
Relates to objectives: 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Mid-semester

Assessment name: Design
Description: Create a physical structure to communicate the required theme using the supplied materials.
Relates to objectives: 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Mid-semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Set text:
There are no set texts for this unit.

Materials:
You'll need a range of drafting and artistic materials and supplies and experimentation with a broad variety of media is encouraged. Typical media include:

• A4 size sturdy pre-bound sketchbook (good quality bond or cartridge paper, 'visual diary' or similar with a minimum of 50 blank pages)
  
• Fine line black felt pens, eg. 0.2 or 0.4mm
  
• Graphite pencils in several soft and medium weights such as HB, 2B, 4B and 6B
  
• Coloured pencils: set of 12 minimum (eg. Cumberland Derwents)
  
• Pencil sharpener, and eraser
  
• Coloured markers

Risk assessment statement

The unit will require you to partake in a supervised field trip, either in or around Brisbane. A risk assessment for the trip has identified only low impact risks. You will be provided with relevant safely guidelines and you'll be required to obey all safety guidelines and directions while attending. Failure to do so may result in the awarding of a failing grade for the unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 18-Jan-2013