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

Knowing about design is an important and intrinsic part of becoming a designer. This requires an understanding of the relationship between technology, people and society. It is important for an Industrial Designer to understand what influenced the emergence and development of the profession. An understanding of how history and technology has shaped society thus prepares designers to function within this historical, social, cultural and technological context. This unit will enable you to develop sound methods of impartially reviewing, writing about and critiquing products, artefacts and other designed things. These are important skills for a professional in the design industry as they will equip you to think more broadly about products you may be involved in shaping, and evaluate existing designs more effectively. This unit will also introduce discourse about the industrial design knowledge base, the changing role of industrial design and the significance of design research.

Aims

This unit will provide you with a historical, cultural and social context for industrial design.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to demonstrate:
1. A broad understanding of the role of design within the recent history of human civilisation.
2. An ability to understand, recognise and identify the various historical styles applicable to Industrial Design.
3. The ability to analyse and discuss the interrelationship between design, technology and society.
4. The ability to think critically about products and designs.
5. The ability to write and verbally communicate an argument or critique to an intermediate level.
6. have an understanding of relevant design theory and discourse.

Content

The major topics covered in this unit include:

• history of industrial design
  
• history of industrialisation
  
• relationship between social and technological change and industrial design
  
• contemporary design theory and discourse
  
• criticism methodology
  
• writing about design

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode: Hours per week: 3
Lecture: 2
Tutorial: 1

The unit will consist of lectures and discussions. The lectures will cover the range of material to be studied. Discussions will include working on a group project and also on individual reflections. Self-directed study will require review of literature and set readings.

Assessment

Three projects form the formative and summative assessment. One of these projects may be executed in small groups at the discretion of the lecturer.

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.You will receive formative feedback on your criticism (group) project week by week as you progress. Formative feedback will be available on individual projects as requested. Please bring to tutorials any material that you require feedback about.

Summative feedback will be provided after end of project/end of semester.

Assessment name: Critique (oral)
Description: As a group you will present a critique on a chosen object using the criticism framework provided.
Relates to objectives: 3-6
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 6

Assessment name: Discussion Papers
Description: You will be required to maintain a reflective journal based on the set readings, tutorial content and associated material delivered throughout the second half of the semester. Three entries from this journal should be worked into discussion papers and submitted.
Relates to objectives: 1-6
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of semester

Assessment name: Timeline
Description: A thorough and well designed timeline to communicate the information delivered through history lectures.
Relates to objectives: 1-3
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of 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

Where possible, electronic copies of notes will be provided on the unit's Blackboard home page.

The following resource materials are recommended. Designated readings will be set for specific lectures, the contents of which will be examined.


Crozier, R. (1994), Manufactured Pleasures, Manchester University Press, Manchester.
Bijker, W. et al (1999), The Social Construction of Technology, The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
DeNoblet, Jocelyn. (Ed) (1993), Industrial Design Reflection of the Century, Flammarion/APCI, Paris.
Forty, A. (1992), Objects of Desire: Design and Society Since 1750, Thames and Hudson, London.
Giedion, S. (1948), Mechanisation Takes Command, Paladin, New York.
**Gorman, C. (2003) Industrial Design Reader, Allworth Press, New York.
Hesket, J. (1980), Industrial Design, Thames and Hudson, London.
Heisinger and Marcus. (1993), Landmarks of Twentieth-Century Design: An Illustrated Handbook, Abbeville Press.
*Lees-Maffei, G. and Houze, R. (2010) Design History Reader, Berg Publishers, Oxford and New York.
Margolin, V. (Ed) (1989), Design Discourse: History, Theory, Criticism, University of Chicago Press.
McClelland, J. E. and Dorn, H. (1999), Science and Technology in World History, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.
McDermont, C. (2000), The Product Book, RotoVision, Singapore
Papanek, V. (1999), Design for the Real World, 2nd ed revised., Academy Chicago Pub., Chicago.
Papanek, V. (1995), The Green Imperative, Thames and Hudson, New York.
Postman, N. (1992), Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology, Vintage Books, New York.
*Raizman, D (2010) History of Modern Design (2nd Ed), Laurence King, London
Sparke, P. (1983) Consultant design: the history and practice of the designer in industry, Pembridge Press, London.
Sparke, P. (1985) The Design sourcebook, Macdonald, London.
Sparke, P. (1987) Design in context, Bloomsbury, London
Tenner, E. (1996), Why Things Bite Back: New Technology and the Revenge Effect, London.
Vickers, G., (1991), Style in Product Design, Design Council, London
Williams, T. I. (2000), A History of Invention, Checkmark Books, New York.
Journals: Design Studies, Design Issues
Editors of Phaidon Press. (2009) Mass Production, Products From Phaidon Design Classics, Phaidon Press, London.
Parsons, T. (2009) Thinking Objects: Contemporary approaches to Product Design, AVA Publishing, Switzerland
Marks, T. (2009) Good Design: Deconstructing Form and Function and What Makes Good Design Work,

** prescribed text. You must buy this. Available at QUT bookshop
* recommended texts. You should buy/borrow these. Available at QUT bookshop and QUT library


Additional Costs
Books (as above)
Consumable costs typical of the preparation and presentation of assignments are to be expected.

Risk assessment statement

You will undertake lectures and tutorials in studios and lecture rooms and there are no extraordinary workplace and safety issues associated with this component. However you may be required to undertake lecturer-led field visits in which case you will be required to attend safety induction sessions that introduce you to safety regulations.

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: 05-Oct-2012