MA Spatial and Environmental Design

The DE7029 Adaptive Environmental Design module ¬¬gives you the opportunity to explore holistic definitions of environmental design. The module locates the spatial interior as the core of environmental design activity. It places the human at the centre of the relationship between space and place and encourages you to extend the spatial context from the interior through the architecture and out into an external situation. By taking a broad and holistic approach to the adaption of habitation and human environments, the module questions the nature of the human environment and asks you to consider how spaces of the future will need to be considered and adapted for future habitation. The module coheres to a strong sustainability aspect and explores the nature of adaptability and mobility within the spatial environment.

The module encourages the application of individual personal strategies and approaches to the environment and spatial design in its broadest contexts. You will build on your previous intellectual curiosity and creative experience and develop a purposeful and masterly design project(s) with clear direction from environmental philosophy and psychology. You will produce a portfolio of work that includes analysis of spatial case studies that investigate how adaptive spaces can be used to affect the spatial experience, proximity, sensorial condition, environmental wellness and habitation of space and place. You will explore and evaluate progressive strategic and environmental experiences and applications that articulate an adaptive and sustainable design process relevant to your concept. Your portfolio will include documents that define a research question, develop an outline spatial manifesto, feasibility abstract and a design brief which will establish the parameters/ agendas of your environmental design proposal. The module includes impute from designers from a range of traditional creative disciplines (Interior, Product, Graphic, Fashion design) but also includes architects, landscape designers, environmental creatives, theatre and performance designers and interaction designers.

You will learn from staff with research and commercial experience from the different Spatial and Environment Design industries, Architecture, Design Communication, Fashion, Design for Industry, Digital and Interaction Design, Service Design, Design Management and Design Thinking. This will introduce you to a multidisciplinary approach to emerging strategies and approaches that help you explore new ways of thinking and alternative practices that allow the involvement of a broad spectrum of professional and creative practices.

In this module, you will be equipped with a range of skills essential to developing specific spatial, environmental and interior design research processes and methodologies tailored around your specialist field of enquiry. You will learn concepts and principles of research through two knowledge portfolios; Research methods/ principles and contemporary responsible practice supported and informed by academic staff research specialisms. Complimenting these two portfolios are a range of research-orientated topics which include research identification, research methodology, identifying and retrieving appropriate data and sources and understanding how to evaluate and employ a range of research sources within the spatial, environmental and interior disciplines. You will develop a practical knowledge of advanced design research methods and develop advanced critical approaches through the processes and practices of contemporary design. This module runs in tandem with Responsible Design Practice (DE7032/LD7217) (20 Credits) which will underpin critical contextual knowledge and understanding that you will need to apply to the discipline-specific modules that will run in the following teaching blocks.

Through this module, you will learn about two interrelated fields of design knowledge described above, which you will interpret relative to your own practice and in line with your Personal Development Journal (PDJ). You will apply this knowledge in co-creative studio practice and will reflect on your experience to summarise the utility and limitations of the methods employed. You will appreciate the transferability of both research methods and responsible design practice and will be able to apply your knowledge in different contexts and domains.

During Responsible Design Practice (DE7032/LD7217) (20 Credits) you will have the opportunity to explore and develop an integrated understanding of the critical responsibilities within spatial, environmental and interior design typologies and practices (designed, emergent, agile). By using critical and responsible design approaches, a synthesis of alternative processes and positions of sustainability, carbon neutral and circular design (including the recycling, reuse, sharing and second-hand economies) are established to seek out innovations that reduce the environmental and social impact and enhance the professional practices of the sector.

Through the application of innovative design strategies, you will begin to develop a series of innovative spatial concepts that address the contemporary societal challenges currently facing the design and build environment sectors. These will include: materiality (sourcing and application), design for circularity, behavioural design, spatial-use cultures and the implementation of product life-extension strategies for the built environment (re-use, repair, recondition, closed-loop systems etc.).

You will work collaboratively utilising approaches such as co-creation and participatory design in the development of multi-stakeholder cooperation and a human-centric approach necessary in the principles of responsible design (sustainability, biophilic, ecological). Considering design as a key tool for change, this module aims to embed new knowledge and create informed, progressive change-makers, prepared to disrupt and lead change to human behaviours and examine the assembly and reconstruction of space.

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Effective reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.