Designing for Cultural Groups: Tribes, Communities and Kin
Duration
- One semester
Contact hours
- 36 hours per semester
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning. For Online unit delivery, learning is conducted exclusively online.
Aims and objectives
This unit aims to provide students with the theories, methods, models, and strategies for designing with small-level groups—the traditional unit of focus for anthropological inquiry.
On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
· Distinguish among social science theories and approaches to individuals (i.e. psychology), the masses (i.e. sociology), and small-level groups (i.e. anthropology)
· Appropriately select methodologies that support small-group inquiry
· Create and interpret representations of kinship, communities, and tribes
· Design social processes that build group cohesion
On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
· Distinguish among social science theories and approaches to individuals (i.e. psychology), the masses (i.e. sociology), and small-level groups (i.e. anthropology)
· Appropriately select methodologies that support small-group inquiry
· Create and interpret representations of kinship, communities, and tribes
· Design social processes that build group cohesion
Courses with unit
This unit ceased at the end of 2015
A unit of study offered onsite and online within the Masters of Design (Design Anthropology) program and Graduate Diploma of Design (Design Anthropology) program.
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
This unit is delivered through lecture and tutorials face-to-face and/or online. It includes group discussions, site visits, demonstrations and critiques.
Assessment
Weekly Concept Blog Individual15%
Class Discussion Facilitation Individual10%
Essay Individual 25%
Final Project Presentation and Documentation Individual 25%
Letter of Self-Commitment (personal development statement) Individual 25%
Please note that weightings are indicative.
Class Discussion Facilitation Individual10%
Essay Individual 25%
Final Project Presentation and Documentation Individual 25%
Letter of Self-Commitment (personal development statement) Individual 25%
Please note that weightings are indicative.
General skills outcomes
Given the importance of human understanding to design strategy and innovation, HDG653 Designing for Cultural Groups produces students with the following Graduate Attributes:
· Adaptable and able to manage change
· Aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (e.g. socio-cultural, economic, natural)
· Entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
HDG653 Designing for Cultural Groups provides students with the following Key Generic Skills:
· Analysis skills
· Problem solving skills
· Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
· Ability to work independently
· Adaptable and able to manage change
· Aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (e.g. socio-cultural, economic, natural)
· Entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
HDG653 Designing for Cultural Groups provides students with the following Key Generic Skills:
· Analysis skills
· Problem solving skills
· Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
· Ability to work independently
Content
The unit explores the following themes:
· Kinship structures and meanings
· Social cohesion among clans and tribes
· Notions of community and communitas
· Modeling social cohesion: diagramming relationships
· Designing systems for socio-cultural cohesion
· Kinship structures and meanings
· Social cohesion among clans and tribes
· Notions of community and communitas
· Modeling social cohesion: diagramming relationships
· Designing systems for socio-cultural cohesion
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
Parkin, R. & Stone, L. (Eds). (2004). Kinships and Family: an Anthropological Reader. Carlton, Australia: Blackwell Publishing.
Scott, J. (2012). Social Network Analysis: a Handbook, 3rd Edition. London: SAGE Publications.
Scott, J. (2012). Social Network Analysis: a Handbook, 3rd Edition. London: SAGE Publications.
Additional references will be made available via Blackboard or another online platform.