Design Activism (ABPL90371)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2025

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Overview

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This elective subject will explore the dynamics and effectiveness of architecture in relation to the politics of protest. It will link together concepts from critical theory, community development, and urban futures with architectural design. To do this the subject will use contemporary case studies to explore the relationship of architectural design to different forms of activism and protest. These case studies will include perspectives from both international and local case studies, and students will be encouraged to develop their own international perspectives. Case studies will include the Occupy movement, Anonymous and other modes of civil disobedience, as well as local case studies including the East-West link and anti Coal Seam Gas protests.

Through this subject students will research how architectural propositions can change the way we protest and the way we respond to protests and protestors. The subject will bring together various ABP academics and practitioners involved in the interfaces between alternative architecture, protest and the contradictions of power in relation to urban infrastructures.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject the student is expected to:



  • Understand and articulate different theories and histories of political protest in relation to contemporary urbanism.
  • Articulate the potential of architectural design as a way to propose alternative futures in situations, where power, community interests and civil disobedience engender both potential and actual conflict.
  • Understand the lifecycle of protests and campaigning including: cultural preparation, organisation building, non-violent confrontation, mass non-cooperation and the development of parallel institutions.
  • Propose strategies, plans, designs and tactics that incorporate architectural design into contemporary protest movements.

Generic skills

  • The ability to think strategically at different environmental and urban scales.

  • The ability to establish and evaluate requirements and priorities in new project situations and contexts.

  • The ability to work individually and collaboratively to prepare and deliver a design project.

  • The ability to prepare, structure, schedule, evaluate and deliver a substantial research or design-research project.

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

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: 4 March 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Case study (including class presentation 10% and seminar report 30%). To be done in a group of 3 or 4, equivalent to 2000 words per student

  • 2000 words (each)
Week 240%

Design activism proposition ( group work)

  • 1000 words (equivalent)
Week 220%

Design activism report including diagrams, drawings and timeline and text equivalent to 2000 words per student

  • 2000 words (each)
1 Weeks after the end of teaching40%

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Dates & times

Not available in 2025

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: 4 March 2025

Further information

  • Texts

    Prescribed texts

    Timothy Gee, Counterpower. New Internationalist 2011

  • 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.

  • Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students

    This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Last updated: 4 March 2025