Units
Design in Society
Unit code: DTB602
Contact hours: 3 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit adopts a social science viewpoint in addressing social and cultural aspects of significance to interior designers. Some of theses aspects include action and interaction, socialisation, ethnicity and race, control, and socio-cultural and indigenous issues of relevance to interior designers. Other topics covered in this unit include:
• Australia and the contemporary world
• Bureaucracy and organisations
• Mass media
• Technology
• Globalisation and regionalism
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2012
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
This unit provides theoretical and analytical resources to enable you to identify the way the designed world intersects with social life. These insights are crucial to the capacity of design to respond to the way the designed world is lived and experienced. This unit will 1) review theories and case studies to illuminate the relationships between design and everyday practice across cultures and time, and 2) provide an opportunity to apply these insights in an analysis of a contemporary designed environment.
Aims
- Review theories and analytical approaches that help us identify the relationships between design and social life
- Apply these theories to case studies of the role of design in social fields
- Use the above skills to analyse a contemporary setting of everyday practice and respond to this analysis through new design ideas
Objectives
On completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Use theories to understand the relationships between the designed world and everyday culture, and the way these vary across cultures and time
- Apply analytical research skills in studying the dynamic relationship between design and the social world
- Conduct case study analyses of these relationships to enhance existing design concepts
Content
Topics covered in this unit include:
- Conceptualising design in society
- Case studies of design in society which may include examples from first nations, different historical periods and contemporary culture
- Framing contemporary design problems by analysing and investigating design in society
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Teaching Mode: Hours per week: 3
Lecture: 1
Tutorial: 2
Learning Approaches:
The unit will involve you in lectures, tutorials, interactive studio exercises and an integrated project. Strategies to be adopted in teaching the unit and promoting your learning include:
- Relating theories to tangible case studies accessible through various media scources: film, television, YouTube etc
- Exploring and practising theoretical analysis by applying it to your own experience
- Group discussion and worked examples of applying theories and methods to case studies
- Workshops to support application of unit concepts in assessment items.
Assessment
Assessment will be based on the assignments introduced within a tutorial context. There will be two assignments undertaken throughout the semester. Both will be allocated a weighting according to unit learning outcomes.You will be provided with ongoing feedback throughout the tutorial activities incorporating identification of strengths and weaknesses and suggestions for further consideration.
Assessment name:
Workbook
Description:
A series of weekly exercises
Relates to objectives:
1 & 2
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
During Semester
Assessment name:
Project (applied)
Description:
Investigation of a contemporary designed environment
Relates to objectives:
1, 2 & 3
Weight:
60%
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
A range of resource materials appropriate for the unit including a list of readings and texts will be recommended and placed on Blackboard. You will be encouraged to reference materials from a range of sources from which you can draw conceptual, procedural, and substantive content to inform your research essay and précis understanding.
Risk assessment statement
You will undertake lectures and/or tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit, however, you may be required to undertake lecturer-led and self-directed visits to sites. A risk assessment for such trips has identified as low impact risk. You will be required to obey all safety guidelines and directions while attending field trips. If you feel you are at risk you should notify staff.
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: 30-May-2012
