Course Title: Designing with Data

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Designing with Data

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ARCH1462

City Campus

Postgraduate

320H Architecture & Urban Design

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016,
Sem 2 2017

ARCH1462

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 1 2021,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 2 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Course Coordinator: Emma Luke

Course Coordinator Phone: Please email

Course Coordinator Email: emma.luke@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Please email

Course Coordinator Availability: Please email


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities:
- Familiarity and competency in using a computer
- Ability to use digital applications like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign or Adobe Illustrator, is beneficial.


Course Description

By completing this course you will develop a clear understanding of the role of data within business, social and cultural contexts, and have the ability to visualise and generate a creative outcome - using data - aligned to your own research interests.

Literacy around data is becoming critical in all forms of practice: be it Big Data (analysis of patterns in large and connected data sets), Open Data (public reporting and government transparency), or personal data (monitoring personal activities).

In this course you will explore the connection between design processes and data to generate informative and creative visual outcomes. You might be from a creative discipline wanting to better understand how to use data, or alternatively, be interested in how the creative applications of data - through visualisation and interaction - can be applied to your discipline. This course is designed to introduce you to new ways of working with data that promote creative outcomes driven by data.

This course is divided into two main themes. Firstly, learning by exploring the core principles of using data within creative scenarios like Data Visualisation, Data Journalism, and Data Art precedents. Secondly, you apply these principles to your own creative project that integrates techniques that are critical to a data-design process: sourcing data, analysis, filtering, visualisation, design iteration, interactivity and presentation.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

  


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

  1. Identify the role of data in business, social and cultural scenarios and communicate the value of design in these contexts
  2. Create and present a data-driven project aligned to a self-directed research topic
  3. Implement digital technologies and programming to achieve your project outcomes
  4. Iteratively develop ideas & designs informed by data
  5. Evaluate and appraise data-driven projects, and their visual and user experience outcomes, from a range of international precedents.


Overview of Learning Activities

This elective focuses on project-based learning in a tutorial environment, where in addition to lecturers, presentations and learning resources, you focus on weekly development of your project, with critique, discussion on self-directed development.

In this elective you will develop skills to handle data, and translate this it into outcomes that may include: printed graphics, interactive websites, or even 3d printed objects.


Overview of Learning Resources

Specific learning resources including readings will be made available to you at the start of the course. This course will utilise online learning materials and use easily available – zero to low cost - software via the internet.
You are expected to bring your own laptop (or have access to a laptop) for the duration of the elective (and have administration rights for this laptop to install software).

You are recommended to have drawing supplies (pens, paper, sketchbooks) and cover expenses relating to printing - using RMIT print facilities - dependant on your project outcomes. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes. Assessment will include the following items:

- Demonstrated mastery in the generation, research and articulation of project ideas

- Consistent self-directed development and documentation of a data-driven design process

- Technical ability to deliver project elements.

Assessment Tasks
1. Research document (10 pg graphical PDF) - 25% CLOs 1 & 2
2. Data Narrative Work Part A - 35% CLOs 1,2,3 & 4
3. Data Narrative Work Part B - 40% CLOs 1,2,3, 4 & 5

 

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 the Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/policies/assessment-policy

The Student Charter provides an overview of key responsibilities of RMIT Staff and Students to ensure a successful experience of university life. www.rmit.edu.au/about/our-education/supporting-learning-and-teaching/student-charter/