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Ex-Lab: Experimental Design Lab (ABPL90361)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Email: jj@unimelb.edu.au
Semester 2
Jas Johnston (Subject Coordinator)
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will explore experimental design approaches that focus on material qualities and process of making. The major project designed and made by each student is a piece of furniture that is the product this intensive process of experimentation and research with both fabrication techniques and materials. The final furniture pieces should exemplifying how the constraints of certain materials and making processes can, in fact, be manipulated and used to the designer’s advantage, driving the design process to result in creating an innovative, beautiful, unusual and functional object. Students will be provided with specific training in the operation and potentials of different fabrication equipment within the MSD makerspaces.
This subject is a quota subject and places are limited. Students who have provisionally enrolled in the subject must provide a short portfolio of their design work and a statement outlining why they are interested in the subject to be considered for selection. Submission is to be emailed directly to the subject coordinator.
Costs to Students:
- Students will be required to purchase all materials used for the development of their design and the production of the final piece.
- All fabrication costs will be provided for free if the student chooses to use the facilities with the ABP makerspaces.
- The typical costs to students is $800 - $1,200 and is determined by the materials selected by the student for their project.
Intended learning outcomes
- Develop a design agenda and concept from an experimental, iterative process that focuses on making techniques and material qualities
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of the chosen materials qualities and take advantage of these in the design of the furniture piece.
- Show a thorough understanding of making processes and how the selected processes take advantage of the material qualities use for the furniture piece
- Create a highly resolved and functional furniture piece finished to a high quality standard with refinement of details.
- Communicate and test ideas and design propositions through iterative use of prototypes, material and making tests, orthographic drawing, 3D-modelling (digital or physical), photomontage, renderings, and animations;
- Apply critical thinking to the assessment of design proposals, and to make changes and improvements based on that assessment through iterative design processes;
Generic skills
- Critical design thinking and analysis;
- Introduction to and advanced use of a range of fabrication and making techniques
- Ability to work with different design methodologies
- Physical and digital prototyping and its translation process
- Time management and project management
- Constructive acceptance of feedback and criticism.
- Ability to integrated digital tools and physical prototyping in design process.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into one of the following courses
MC-ARCH Master of Architecture
MC-ARCH2Y Master of Architecture (200 points)
MC-ARCH3Y Master of Architecture (300 points)
PLUS
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABPL90142 | Master of Architecture Studio C |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
25 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Students are required to have extensive experience with digital design software in particular Rhino 3D as all the fabrication equipment is operated using this program. Experience with Grasshopper is also desirable but not required.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Stool Exercise 1: over 2 weeks, due week 3 (equivalent to 8.5 hours of work per student). Working in pairs student will be required to design a stool that is made solely using the assigned fabrication machine, (5%);
- Stool Exercise 2: over 2 weeks, due week 5 (equivalent to 8.5 hours of work per student). Working in pairs student will be required to design a stool that is made solely using the assigned material, (5%);
- Design Journal – Mid Semester Review due week 10 (equivalent to 26 hours of work per student). The design journal is a document that records each student’s progress throughout the semester, documenting, analyzing and critiquing introductory projects, precedent research, and their own projects progress and development, (15%);
- Design Journal – Final Submission (equivalent to 51 hours of work per student) – Due during examination period , (30%);
- Furniture Piece, equivalent to 76 hours of work per student. The furniture piece should display a deep understanding of making processes and material qualities, resulting in a highly resolved and functional furniture piece, (45%).
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Jas Johnston Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 3 hours per week in lecture/workshop Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 25 February 2019 to 2 June 2019 Last self-enrol date 3 February 2019 Census date 31 March 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 10 May 2019 Assessment period ends 28 June 2019 Semester 1 contact information
Email: jj@unimelb.edu.au
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Jas Johnston Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 3 hours per week in lecture/workshop Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 22 July 2019 to 27 October 2019 Last self-enrol date 30 June 2019 Census date 31 August 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 27 September 2019 Assessment period ends 22 November 2019 Semester 2 contact information
Jas Johnston (Subject Coordinator)
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
Quota: 18
This subject is a quota subject and places are limited. Students may provisionally enrol via the Student Portal, but places are not guaranteed until selection is completed. You will be notified in writing by the Student Centre if you are selected.
Selection criteria: Students who have provisionally enrolled in the subject must provide a short portfolio of their design work and a statement outlining why they are interested in the subject to be considered for selection. For detailed information on the quota subject application process and due dates, refer to the EDSC Quota Subjects webpage: http://edsc.unimelb.edu.au/quota-subjects
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Architecture Course Master of Architecture - Links to additional information
Last updated: 3 November 2022