DE4021 - Design Projects

The teaching and learning strategy for this module centres around studio and workshop activity. The project briefs that drive the content of the module engage you in all aspects of the design process from research to the creation of a final prototype. You will learn by doing research into specific issues that surround design opportunities, for example when tackling themes such as designing for sustainability or exploring the potential of a particular material. You will learn to recognise the value of exploring a range of creative concepts through peer group critique and studio-based feedback. You will learn by presenting your design ideas and artefacts to tutors and peers and reflecting upon this activity and the feedback given. Through processes of researching, designing, presenting, reflecting and repeating where appropriate, you will learn to manage the complexities of design work and begin to develop a critical awareness and an aesthetic sensibility in your own practice.

When working in groups, you will develop your personal skills by learning to work effectively with others and develop the ability to be flexible and collaborative.

This module is supported by tutors and specialist technicians in both studio and workshop settings. You will be taught via timetabled studio sessions delivered to groups of students and small group and 1:1 tutorials. Staged interim critiques and formative assessment points guide you and help you to reflect upon your academic progress. You will receive tuition in relevant CAD software throughout the module, and be asked to apply this learning in the creation of technical drawings for each project brief. Workshop inductions and competency building sessions, which support the learning taking place through the design briefs, are delivered by dedicated technical staff based in the cabinet-making and metalsmithing workshops.

Tutor-guided independent learning time will help you to make constructive use of feedback received in class, and to take responsibility to direct your own learning during the design projects. Independent learning may include a range of activities in addition to meeting the requirements of a design project, such as; contextual reading; developing computer software skills; prototyping media experimentation; photographic practice etc.

The module has a specific virtual learning environment (eLearning Portal) which acts as resource where you can access all the relevant documentation including module briefs and guides, presentations and assessment requirements. The digital submission of aspects of project work for tutorial guidance and formative assessment allows for expedient communication and the effective review of work, whilst also utilising industry standard practices.

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)

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:
? Apply critical thinking to interrogate and understand design issues as they arise in creative practice.
? Evidence an awareness of safe working practices and procedures, through the workshop induction and competence building process.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

? Demonstrate a foundational ability to conduct research in the service of varied design projects, analyse and present this information.
? Independently generate appropriate creative concepts, proposals and artefacts in response to design briefs, and thus demonstrate an understanding of the design issues or challenges in question.
? Demonstrate competent visual communication and technical drawing skills in the execution of individual project and portfolio presentations.

Personal Value Attributes

? Demonstrate a commitment to your studies and development as a designer, through the engagement with, and management of, your own learning.
? Identify your design strengths, set clear goals, and begin to align your learning objectives with personal design interests.
? Cooperate effectively with others to develop and present joint projects.

The module is made up of multiple furniture and product design projects that are formatively assessed throughout the module, after staged submissions. You will be given verbal feedback in 1: 1 tutorials as part of the teaching of the module, during which you will discuss your attainment against the module learning outcomes. This provides you with the opportunity to apply the feedback to future briefs and improve your competencies before your final summative assessments.

You will collate the design projects completed throughout this module into two portfolios, which are summatively assessed.

Portfolio 1 (50%) is submitted at the end of block 2. It addresses all MLOs.

Portfolio 2 (50%) is submitted at the end of block 3. It addresses all MLOs.

Summative feedback is written and delivered via end-of-module tutorials.

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This module is designed to develop students’ abilities to creatively answer three-dimensional design briefs, both as individuals and in team situations.

The module is formed around a series of furniture and product design projects that act as vehicles for students to apply and develop their design skills and knowledge. The projects encourage students to put the theoretical and practical skills taught in other modules into practice and begin to consider their learning in a wider professional context. The project briefs will enable students to explore a variety of different contexts and motivations for design practice. Some briefs might explore the potentials of a particular material or process, others might set a design task with a particular manufacturer in mind. Students might be prompted to creatively repurpose existing objects into novel forms, or re-design artefacts to make people think differently about an important subject or issue. These diverse projects will require various blends of theoretical and practical skills as students research, develop, make and communicate thoughtful and sophisticated responses.