XD4011 - Personal Research Project 1

The module will use a range of blended teaching and learning activities: studio-based workshops, studio practice, and independent study (supported with online materials). Teaching in this module will be centred around developing your skills as a reflexive designer, embedding skills you learnt in other modules into your practice.

In this module you will engage in two main areas of work:
(1) Engaging in reflexive practice and group activities to develop your awareness of the digital design landscape and your place within it. As part of this work you will look back at what you have learnt in your programme so far and develop goals for what else you hope to achieve in the following year. This learning relates not only to design skills, but also to ‘softer’ skills that are essential for becoming a successful digital designer (this might include team work, collaboration, building empathy and understanding, developing your identity and aspirations, reflexivity, etc.)

(2) You will engage with an academic investigation to develop and explore research skills and develop your own identity as a designer using design-led approaches toward exploratory design outcomes. In the first half of the module, you will be given small group activities and experiments to engage with to support your reflexivity. In the second half of the module, you will be tasked with developing and applying these methods to express your identity though the development and presentation of a design artefact.

Your module tutors will provide extensive support in various forms, including lectures, seminars, group discussions, workshops, and tutorials

You will be guided by tutors with relevant expertise in design, reflexive practice, and design-led research investigations. By giving and receiving peer feedback in the module, you will also be supported by other students on the programme, and will provide support to others. Studio feedback from your tutors will be given throughout all workshops, as well as at any interim presentation as and when these are necessary. You will also be given the opportunity to have feedback on your research and development in small group or individual sessions with the tutors.

Further academic support is provided via e-learning tools, such as additional reading, short videos, wikis, or discussion groups. Additional contact with tutors will also be available during specified office hours, by arrangement. Additional support is provided through thee English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) module, where English is not your first language.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• LO 1Apply critical thinking to debate design issues or develop creative work. Design Thinking K&U1

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• LO2 Apply design approaches and research methods to develop work. Research & Development IPSA4

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• LO3 Identify areas for personal interest and professional growth within the design field. Self-Reflection PVA2
• LO 4Identify design strengths, set clear goals, and align learning objectives with personal design interests. Self-Reflection PVA3

You will be assessed formatively, using verbal feedback during timetabled sessions at key stages of the design development process.

You will be summatively assessed at the end of the module through the submission of a:

• Component 1: Reflexive essay on student learning journey
MLOs 1 4

• Component 2: A presentation of your individual research investigation
MLOs 1 2 3

• Component 3: A visual poster of your outcomes, and goals/aspirations for the future
MLOs 2 3


At this summative stage you will receive initial verbal feedback during your presentation, followed up with additional written feedback on your design process book and final submission.

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The module will function like a simulation of a design studio. You will work with your colleagues to find your place in the design landscape. As a class, you will be given a number of weekly design tasks to experiment with methods and approaches you have learnt throughout the year to deepen your knowledge of them. During this time, you will develop the ‘soft’ skills that are required to become a successful designer, whether that is in an agency or in a specialist design team as part of a bigger company or organisation. At the same time, you will learn to work independently to explore an area of design that you are interested in through a research project.