Contemporary Design Issues
36 hours + Blended
One Semester or equivalent
Hawthorn, Online
Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
Overview
This unit explores key issues in contemporary design and media practice and their relation to social, economic and political contexts. Students will be introduced to appropriate research and writing methodologies and apply these skills to design practice and projects.
Requisites
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
26-February-2024
26-May-2024
26-May-2024
Last self-enrolment date
10-March-2024
Census date
31-March-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-April-2024
Results released date
02-July-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Investigate and analyse design and media issues in relation to social, economic and political contexts using primary sources
- Articulate a range of contemporary issues related to design and media practice
- Use a body of relevant critical theory in the form of an argument and apply it to design and/or media practice
- Develop a cohesive argument about a design issue that articulates a point of view, suitable for a published (professional) journal
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Studio | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Unspecified Activities Various | 4.00 | 12 weeks | 48 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 5.50 | 12 weeks | 66 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 12.50 | 12 weeks | 150 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Individual | 0% | 1,3,4 |
| Skill-building Tasks | Individual | 0% | 2,3 |
| Weekly written online responses | Individual | 0% | 1,2,3 |
Content
The unit will explore a wide range of thematic areas that may include discussions on topics such as:
- The role of design, new technologies and new materials in the 21st Century
- Cross/inter-disciplinary practices in design and new media
- Key contemporary practitioners
- Design philosophies
- Aesthetics in the 21st Century
- Design for environmental and social sustainability
- Design for emotion
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.