DE6017 - Future Practice in Context

The module is taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, group seminars and independent study. By these means, you will have a clear methodology to complete your critical and contextual research project relating to your design problem/setting. The topic of your research should be an are or issue that you wish to contribute to as a designer in your level 6 and beyond.

Once your final proposal and assessment format has been negotiated and signed off by the tutor/s you will be allocated a key supervisor and seminar group to support your research journey. You will be expected to independently work through your project and actively share insights and questions with your seminar group. Where possible we will tailor supervisors and seminar groups to support your areas of interest e.g. those proposals using predominately primary research methods, groups working on developing design writing as a practice and those projects exploring public engagement and or user experience.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
Engage with appropriate Design theories within global, historical, contemporary and cultural contexts and demonstrate an ability to locate and add purpose to your practice in these evolving contexts. (KU01)

Independently source and engage with a broad range of research material, and demonstrate your ability to review, reflect on and evaluate the findings. (KU02)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
Show a developed and enhanced skill/ability to analyse information and experiences, formulate independent judgements, and articulate reasoned arguments through reflection,review and evaluation of source materials. (IPSA01)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

Possess the capacity to work independently; reflect on your own learning and development; and determine your own future learning needs. (PVA01)

Demonstrate the ability to communicate up to a professional standard, in written, visual and other presentation forms. (PVA02)

This module will be summatively assessed at the end of the module through one of the below formats:

Dissertation (5000-words): a fully articulated piece of writing which is the culmination of a substantial and sustained research into an appropriate subject based on your design problem/setting and realised as an article for a key industry publication (e.g. Design week, Journal of Design History, Design Research Society and or Designing Interactive Systems). (KU01) (KU02) (IPSA01) (PVA01) (PVA02)

Or a Research Report: this report should evidence an equivalence in effort, time and the level of research and understating achieved.

The report should contain an abstract / introduction, research documentation, analysis, and a set of conclusions/insights/findings. These findings should be presented both in clear plain text or diagrammatic manner (as suits the material) as well as through a data visualisation and or creative infographic allied to the designated audience/sector. (KU01) (KU02) (IPSA01) (PVA02)

This report should be supported by a 500-word appendix containing a personal reflection stating how this project is relevant to your design practice, how it supports your plan for final year and beyond. (PVA01)

Or a Public Engagement Report: this report should evidence an equivalence in effort, time and the level of research and understating achieved.

This report is an illustrated document that proposes a clear rational for a public engagement activity (e.g. an exhibition, design festival, symposium or a design-activist community event). This document should clearly be supported by professional use of communicative / scene setting images indicating how the public would engage with your selected design setting/problem/topic.
(KU01) (KU02) (IPSA01) (PVA01)

This report should be supported by a 500-word appendix containing a personal reflection stating how this project is relevant to your design practice, how it supports your plan for final year and beyond. (PVA02)

Formative feedback will be given throughout the module culminating in a final submission. Formative feedback will be given verbally, whereas summative assessment will be written, giving a marks breakdown of how the submission met the five individual learning outcomes.

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This module will represent your culminative critical and contextual research project that allows you as a designer, to confidently use design research methods to draw together insights that can be used to support/inform your future self-initiated design practice.

Unlike traditional theory-based modules that often remain rooted in theory and written discourse for primarily academic dissemination, this module encourages the practical application of research in contemporary professional and research contexts as a stepping stone into your graduate destinations.