Overview

Design is a multidisciplinary, broadly based profession that meets people’s needs in different contexts and draws from national and international resources. This unit allows students to gain an intensive study abroad experience combined with a cultural tour related to design in an international context. Activities may include visits to industry, studios, events, universities and museums. The unit aims to engage students with the cultural, social and educational environments within international design contexts; to provide opportunities for students to engage with culturally rich forums and places of interest; and to improve students' understanding of similarities and differences in design practice and methodologies.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Synthesise the knowledge of the design professions gained in the cultural contexts of the study tour
  • Apply these understandings to their discipline-specific design project
  • Demonstrate competencies in developing culturally appropriate design outcomes that respond to real world situations
  • Discuss and critique their study tour experiences

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Study Tour
Site Visit
40.00 3 weeks 120
Specified Learning Activities (Phasing out)
Various
4.00 1 week 4
Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out)
Independent Learning
6.50 4 weeks 26
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssessmentIndividual 35% 1,2,4 
Design ProjectIndividual 50% 1,2,3 
PresentationIndividual 15% 1,2,3,4 

Content

The basis of the unit is a study tour to an international destination. Students will be provided with briefings, industry and museum visits. The content of each study tour will consist of:

  • Cultural awareness
  • Design practice
  • Research techniques
  • Information acquisition and organisation
  • Awareness of historical and social contexts
  • The design professions and their relationship with industry- cultural comparisons
  • Interpersonal and intercultural communications
  • Effective presentation techniques

Study resources

Reading materials

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