Course Title: Research Studio
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Research Studio
Credit Points: 24.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
ARCH1417 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
320H Architecture & Urban Design |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2014, Sem 2 2014, Sem 1 2015, Sem 2 2015, Sem 1 2016, Sem 2 2016, Sem 1 2017, Sem 2 2017 |
ARCH1417 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
370H Design |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2018, Sem 2 2018, Sem 1 2019, Sem 2 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 2 2020, Sem 2 2021, Sem 1 2022, Sem 2 2022, Sem 1 2023, Sem 2 2023, Sem 1 2024 |
Course Coordinator: Lawrence Harvey
Course Coordinator Phone: Please email
Course Coordinator Email: lawrence.harvey@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: Please email
Course Coordinator Availability: Please email
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None.
Course Description
Research Studio introduces you to design research. It is part of the sequence of studios comprising the Design Innovation and Technology (DIT) program, including Technology Studio and Innovation Studio, and Major Project A and B. The studio is central to the education and practice of a designer, and the core manner by which to develop technical, creative and communication skills. The Studio sequence cumulatively develops your approach and position to innovation and harnessing technology in design practice, and develops a keen understanding of the spatial, material, performative and economic dynamics of design, including performance feedback and novel approaches to materiality and digital fabrication. This studio will include the completion of a research strategies module. This course includes a work integrated learning experience in which your knowledge and skills will be applied and assessed in a real or simulated workplace context and where feedback from industry and/ or community is integral to your experience.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
You will be assessed on your development of the following program learning outcomes:
- Master a body of knowledge of recent developments in design innovation and technologies, as well as in your area of professional practice.
- Select and apply a range of digital and analogue techniques to modelling, analysis and representation in design, demonstrating expert judgment, independence and awareness of sustainability issues.
- Work independently and in teams to originate design proposals and approaches in response to complex or wicked design challenges and hypotheses, rigorously theorizing both process and outcomes.
- Construct an independent idiom integrating design and technology.
- Articulate complex design ideas to diverse audiences through an advanced and adaptable repertoire of communication strategies and technologies.
- Generate innovative approaches to design problems and solutions, with a criticality and openness to unfamiliar and novel concepts and methodologies.
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Apply design skills to generate and evaluate design objectives, questions and sub-systems, working from an open-ended design challenge.
- Apply design skills to produce design solutions addressing questions of performance and materiality.
- Synthesise design issues, information, programmatic and technical requirements leading to design speculations.
- Present, argue, critique and speculate on individual and collaborative design system proposals haptically, visually, verbally and textually, to peers, academics and professional audiences.
- Apply a number of research strategies and evaluate the quantitative and qualitative of sustainable design practice.
- Work collaboratively and across disciplines to produce applicable design research.
Overview of Learning Activities
You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectures, tutorials, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face-to-face, online or a mix of both.
You will be engaged in learning that involves a range of activities including:
- Independent and collaborative design
- Producing visual and verbal presentations of design work
- Fabrication of physical, digital and combined models or other representative materials
- Interaction with partners from practice and industry
- Attendance at lectures and public events as related to the project
Overview of Learning Resources
RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.
To effectively participate in coursework it is advisable that you have an appropriate personal computer or laptop computer capable of running such educational modelling software as Rhino 3D, Digital Project, etc. this will include running Bootcamp on an Apple macbook.
You are also recommended to have drawing supplies and basic prototyping equipment such as protective eye-ware, ear plugs, dust jacket, closed toe or safety shoes, steel ruler, craft knife etc.
You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.
You will have access to and will utilize workshop facilities and computer labs with specialist software and printing facilities.
RMIT Swanston Library has extensive resources for design students. 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.
Overview of Assessment
You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. Assessment tasks may include design project presentations, research reports, visualisations, design prototypes, design system prototypes, design project documentation and conduct.
Assessment will cover both theoretical and practical aspects of your learning. You will develop your work in relation to your own specific areas of interest in your professional practice and design research.
Assessment Tasks
There are 4 key assessment tasks:
Assignment 1: Research; 10% (CLOs 1&2)
Assignment 2: Concept; 20% (CLOs 1, 2, & 3)
Assignment 3: Presentation; 30% (CLOs 1 to 6)
Assignment 4: Design Research Compendium; 40% (CLOs 1 to 6)
* (10% - or 1/4 of this task - is allocated to your Research Methods assignment)
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.