Design-led Innovation: Research Project
Duration
- One semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 60 hours per semster
2021 teaching periods
Hawthorn
| Higher Ed. Semester 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Prerequisites
Aims and objectives
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Select and apply relevant design research methods, judging the suitability of approaches and tools for idea generation, design development, design refinement and design evaluation.
2. Critically discuss and analyse research undertaken by others in practice or an academic context.
3. Summarise research findings and design rationales appropriately; defend the reliability of methods, processes and outcomes chosen in discussion with clients, colleagues and academic peers.
4. Interpret research findings as part of a self-directed design process to create innovative solutions.
5. Responsibly conduct research and apply ethical standards to design practice.
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
This unit will involve up to 300 hours of work including:
| Type (On-campus) | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
| Face to Face Contact Tutorial Seminar |
3 2 |
12 12 |
36 24 |
| Online Contact | N/A |
|
|
| Specified Learning Activities Lectures, readings, discussions, literature review, data gathering, analysis, design exploration, prototype development and formal and informal presentations. |
16 |
12 |
192 |
| Unspecified Learning Activities Independent study, proposal preparation, presentation preparation, group management | 3 | 12 | 36 |
| TOTAL |
|
| 288 hours/25cp |
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Literature Review and Rich Picture | Individual | 15% | 1, 3, 4 |
| Class Presentations (2) | Individual | 10% | 3, 4 |
| Design Process Journal | Individual | 15% | 2, 3, 4 |
| Comprehensive research report and design proposal | Group | 60% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
General skills outcomes
• Teamwork Skills
• Analysis Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Communication Skills
• Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
• Ability to work independently
Content
• Design research and innovation experimental studies.
• The phases of exploratory, generative and evaluative research and design.
• The philosophy, methods and challenges of quantitative research, and qualitative
ethnographic approaches to user research to inform and inspire a design-led innovation
process. Qualitative approaches taught may include artefact analysis, contextual
observation, cultural probes, interview techniques, photo and diary studies, and survey.
• The use of co-design methods in a design-led innovation process.
• Prototyping and evaluation.
• Data analysis and visualisation.
• Ethical and other issues in design and research, especially as related to human-centred design.
Study resources
- Reading materials.