Overview

This unit introduces students to a methodology using design activity in a process of knowledge directed enquiry. Design practice can be contextualised as a critical framework where questions are posed, and solutions are sought through ‘making’. Students will create interventions where thinking and inquiry occur through design practice. Reflections on these interventions are explored within social, cultural and technological contexts.

Requisites

Prerequisites

Rules 

Pre-requisite
50cps of studies within a current enrolment in a SoDA Postgraduate Course

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-March-2026
31-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
15-March-2026
Census date
31-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
21-April-2026
Results released date
07-July-2026

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  1. Implement strategies and methods of practice-based enquiry to investigate what can be learnt through design activity
  2. Construct prototypes in connection with other research methods as a means of gaining new knowledge
  3. Synthesise multiple insights from direct design interventions
  4. Critically evaluate design prototype/s through testing methods and conclude with recommendations for further development
  5. Articulate the design process, the design interventions and research findings through well-structured documentation, design outcome and presentations

Teaching methods

All applicable locations

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week Venue Type and Activity Detail
On-campus Studio 36 12 weeks 3  
Specified Activities Various 36 12 weeks 3 Discussion boards, Practice-led enquiry into materials, Technology
and form, Technical development, Workshops, Collaborative idea
generation, Readings
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 78 12 weeks 6.5  
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5  

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Proposal and Prototype Individual/Group 30%  1,2,3,4 
Project and Presentation Individual/Group 40%  1,5
Report Individual 30% 1,5

Content

  • Develop a design-led project that relies on research
  • Analysis and critique of personal and professional design practice
  • Create frameworks to aid analysis
  • Design-led technological exploration
  • Conduct design research through a practice-based scenario and generate a design proposal
  • Use a range of analytical, research and design skills to facilitate the articulation of a design project
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of designs through consultation, prototype creation and practical tests
  • Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.