The aim of this module is to develop understanding of the potential roles and responsibilities of the designer and enable students to contextualise their personal design vision and ambition. The emphasis in this module is on developing design sympathies and an awareness of a project's stakeholders and how to work creatively and effectively within established project parameters.
The module encourages understanding of how to develop work in a dynamic and appropriate manner, equipping students with the ability to express opinions and adopt different perspectives in relation to a range of issues and contexts (social, commercial, cultural, environmental and political).
Students are expected to further develop their knowledge and ability in developing design solutions and communicating these physically, digitally, verbally and visually. The module aims include the design of a contextual portfolio in preparation for Level 6.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Teaching will be delivered through studio-based projects and seminar sessions that will include portfolio reviews, workshops, subject-specific talks and lectures by visiting industry practitioners. Group tutorials and critiques will take place alongside individual progress tutorials. Students are expected to undertake self-directed study and to develop work independently following formative feedback and to access specialist areas as appropriate. The module will make use of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Canvas for communication and dissemination of information between students and staff as well as making online learning materials available to all. Students should check this site on a daily basis for module information, timetables, sign-ups, updates and additional information and teaching materials following individual project sessions.
All courses based in the Kingston School of Art offer students free access to the online video tutorial platform Lynda.com. This provides a wide range of subjects to choose from, many with downloadable exercise files, including software tutorials covering photography, graphics, web design, audio and music, CAD and Microsoft Office software, as well as courses on Business and Management skills. Some of these are embedded in the curriculum and offer additional self-paced learning, others may be taken at will by students wishing to broaden their employability skills in other areas.
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | Taught studio projects, workshops, seminars, reviews, crits & tutorials | 200 |
| Guided independent study | 100 | |
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 | |
Projects and development work, seminar presentations, project logs and self-evaluations are formatively assessed with feedback and feed forward provided in crits and project reviews throughout the module. Work is submitted and summatively assessed at the end of the module.
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| 1) Demonstrate the strategic use of research methods and the employment of analytical tools in the gathering and evaluation of research material. | Formatively assessed through project reviews and crits throughout the module. Summatively assessed in project work submitted at the end of the module. |
| 2) Demonstrate awareness and understanding of how context informs design in relation to its role and its potential for effecting change. | Formatively assessed through project reviews and crits throughout the module. Summatively assessed in project work submitted at the end of the module. |
| 3) Demonstrate an emerging critical approach to their work including awareness and understanding of contemporary industry concerns, debates and future directions | Formatively assessed through project reviews and crits throughout the module. Summatively assessed in project work submitted at the end of the module. |
| 4) Demonstrate an appreciation of their role and responsibilities as a contemporary design practitioner | Formatively assessed through project reviews and crits throughout the module. Summatively assessed in project work submitted at the end of the module. |
| 5) Demonstrate effective and appropriate presentation of work – including refining, editing, selecting and production – across a range of platforms | Formatively assessed through project reviews and crits throughout the module. Summatively assessed in project work submitted at the end of the module. |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Studio projects | Coursework | 100% |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It IS a requirement that the element of assessment is passed in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
Thackara, J. (2005) In the bubble: designing in a complex world. Cambridge (Ma): London: MIT.
Sudjic, D. (2009) The Language of Things; Design Luxury, Fashion, Art: How we are seduced by the objects around us, Penguin.
Kelley, T. (2002) The art of Innovation. London: Profile.
Lefteri, C. (2006) Materials for inspirational design. Mies: Hove: Rotovision.
Pink, D. (2006) A whole new mind: how to thrive in the new conceptual age. London: Cyan Books.
Suri, J. F. (2005) Thoughtless acts? San Francisco: Chronicle Books.
Pilger, J (2002) The New Rulers of the World, Verso