Course Title: Methods in Design Research and Practice

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Methods in Design Research and Practice

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

GRAP2225

City Campus

Undergraduate

315H Architecture & Design

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 2 2013

GRAP2225

City Campus

Undergraduate

320H Architecture & Urban Design

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2014,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 1 2016,
Sem 2 2016,
Sem 1 2017,
Sem 2 2017

GRAP2225

City Campus

Undergraduate

370H Design

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2018,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 2 2023,
Sem 1 2024,
Sem 2 2024

Course Coordinator: Juan Sanin

Course Coordinator Phone: Please email

Course Coordinator Email: juan.sanin@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: School of Design, RMIT University, City Campus

Course Coordinator Availability: Please email


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Co-Requisite Courses 

You should undertake ARCH3368 Design Honours Project One at the same time as this course as it contains areas of knowledge and skills which are implemented together in practice. 

Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course. 

For your information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage. 

Recommended Prior Study  

If you are undertaking the Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours) Program you should have satisfactorily completed all core program courses and have made substantial progress in your chosen area of major before you commence this course. 


Course Description

Methods in Design Research and Practice offers you an opportunity to explore a range of design research methods frameworks to structure your continuing studies in design. You will develop a critical appreciation of the roles and processes of primary and secondary research, representation practices within design research, data acquisition, evaluative frameworks, and how to approach a research concern in a rigorous and ethical manner. You will develop analytical and research skills, including the ability to translate design generated information, scholarly approaches to literature, and case studies into a cohesive argument for future design research. 

This is a core course in the BH104P25 Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours) program. 

If you are enrolled in this course as a component of your Bachelor Honours Program, your overall mark will contribute to the calculation of the weighted average mark (WAM).   

See the WAM information web page for more information. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes 

In this course you will develop the following BH104P25 Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours) program learning outcomes: 

PLO1: Apply analytical, critical, creative, and strategic thinking to industrial design problems and research across complex, place-based, and cultural contexts.

PLO2: Collaborate with communities, specialists, and key stakeholders to respond to design challenges in complex, diverse and multi-disciplinary settings

PLO3: Articulate complex design ideas with respect for diverse audiences using an adaptable range of technologies, techniques, and modes of representation. 


Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: 

CLO1: Evidence ideas in response to specific methods of research, and conduct research practices in an ethical and responsible manner. 

CLO2: Collaborate in critique to share ideas and insights with peers and be reflectively critical of ones own work. 

CLO3: Analyse key ideas from design theory and other fields relevant to a design research inquiry with reference to their historical and contextual origins in order to frame future design and research activities. 


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be introduced to various modes of contemporary design and research practice through variety of text and online sources to establish problems that design practice can seek to solve or explore. These practices will include readings, textual thematic analysis, concept diagramming, and analysis of design representational processes. You will be actively engaged in learning that involves a range of face to face and online activities such as lectures, tutorials, discussions, group and individual research, presentations, academic writing, peer review and associated design activities. You are encouraged and expected to contribute (in an ongoing manner) to tutorial discussions and to present your work and ideas in an open way for appraisal by peers. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.  

When on campus you will have access to and will utilise the School of Design workshop facilities, specialist computer labs and software, and 2D and 3D printing facilities.   

Course specific resources such as readings, reference lists, access to specialist software, video demonstrations and class notes will be provided online.   

There are services and resources available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the RMIT student website.  

A Library Subject Guide for the discipline this course is aligned to can be found here: https://rmit.libguides.com/design-industrial 


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. 

Graded Core Course:  

Please note that this course is a core course in the BH104P25 Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours) program. As such, it is numerically graded and contributes to the calculation of your Weighted Academic Mark (WAM). 

Assessment Tasks  

Task 1: Abstract 10% CLOs 1 

Task 2: Study Design and Ethical Research 20% CLOs 1, 3 

Task 3: Design Practice Representation Presentation and Peer Review 30% CLOs 1, 2, 3 

Task 4: Literature Review 40% CLOs 1,  3 

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.  

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.  

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures, and instructions.