Design Futures (ABPL90147)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Commercial firms, governments, and nongovernmental organisations compete for graduates who can innovate in response to the major changes in global societies and environments. Independent entrepreneurship is another career path that requires strategic foresight.
In response to these challenges, this subject studies phenomena, ideas, research, and technologies that will define emerging trends. To do this, the subject forecasts the future of design in a variety of disciplines, including design and architecture. It identifies significant innovations, outlines necessary changes, and provides guidance for an in-depth investigation.
The seminar reconsiders relationship between humans, nonhuman organisms and machines within emerging systems engaging with:
- Places as complex systems that house multispecies inhabitants and call for design through living labs or ongoing experiments
- Design as a participatory practice that can involve animals, plants and algorithms as well as humans, often in the context of simulations and self-organising systems
- Representation as a way to connect design stakeholders through advanced visualisation, data mining and machine learning
- Fabrication and construction from innovative materials, with minimal environmental impact using robotics and augmented reality
- Monitoring of the resulting performance through remote imaging and sensor networks
- Adaptation, reuse, and decommissioning following natural, societal, and technical lifecycles
The teaching method combines reading with visual presentations by prominent guests and case-study analysis. In the second half of the subject, students define their own creative assignments and develop expertise that will be relevant to their professional goals.
The subject can support in-depth research for design studios, theses, and research degrees. It is also useful as evidence of skills in design innovation for future employers. Beyond this, past iterations of the subject supported design/art projects, contributed to research within design practices, and laid foundations for innovative career paths and business models.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of the subject students should have developed:
- Familiarity with the current conceptual thinking about natural, technical and cultural systems.
- Understanding of future studies and design innovation in theory and practice.
- Critical understanding of the creative and design opportunities in the future.
- Understanding of design methods for collaboration with non-human agents including algorithms, machines, materials, and organisms.
- Skills to conduct creative research and formulate innovative, future-oriented projects.
- Skills to plan personal development in the light of current trends and possible futures
Generic skills
- On completion of the subject students should have developed: Critical thinking and analytical skills.
- Research skills in information gathering and narrative synthesis.
- Skills in analysis of complex issues and the ability to express them persuasively, orally and in writing.
Last updated: 8 November 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Ability to conduct independent research. Students with established personal activities in professional or creative practice, research, design, or activism are especially welcome. Technical and digital skills are a bonus 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: 8 November 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Analysis of assigned readings, active participation in class discussions, acting as a leader of at least two in-class discussions, evidence of individual research.
| Throughout the semester | 10% |
Initial research proposal, up to 300 words and in-class presentation supported by images and references
| Week 3 | 10% |
Essay outline of up to 1000 words, demonstrating an interesting idea, familiarity with relevant concepts, and a persuasive argument
| Week 4 | 20% |
Final essay , developed from the outline, demonstrating an in-depth and innovative understanding of the chosen topic
| End of semester | 60% |
Last updated: 8 November 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Stanislav Roudavski Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 3 hpours per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2024 to 26 May 2024 Last self-enrol date 8 March 2024 Census date 3 April 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 3 May 2024 Assessment period ends 21 June 2024 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 Hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 8 November 2024
Further information
- Texts
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
This subject has a Quota and priority will be given to UoM students
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 8 November 2024