DE4018 - Design Cultures

The module is taught through illustrated lectures, seminars and workshops. Your participation in all aspects of the module is expected and will help you to develop and communicate your ideas. Each session will involve presentations by the tutor to establish key terms of reference, followed by group discussion and exercises around the issues raised. Interactive workshops will help you to develop study skills relevant to design practice, including research, visual analysis, presentation and teamwork. Study skills seminars will help you develop your skills in academic research and writing, critical thinking and textual analysis.

In addition to learning during contact hours with module tutors, students will be expected to undertake both directed and independent learning. Directed learning generally will take the form of preparation for seminars (including reading), either individually or in small groups. The preparatory work you will do for the seminars will help you to complete your assignments successfully. Independent learning will take the form of further reading and investigation of sources and the consolidation of lecture and seminar materials. You will be supported in the skills of academic writing through the use of formative and summative feedback.

Academic support will be provided through lectures, seminars, group and individual tutorials, and use of the eLearning Portal (Blackboard). Seminars and tutorials will give you the opportunity to discuss the assessment criteria, both at the planning stage and as you engage with tasks. Tutorials will offer you support with any specific issues or concerns. Sample student work will be provided via the eLearning Portal to guide you in the preparation of your assignments. Study skills sessions will ensure good practice for everyone following the module. Formative feedback will be ongoing within group learning sessions. Written feedback will be provided after you have submitted your assignments.

Tutor Guided Independent Learning/Student Independent Learning will help you start to make constructive use of feedback received in class, and to take responsibility to direct your own learning needs. Such learning may include a range of activities such as contextual reading or studying and analysing artefacts.

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:

? Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of historical and contemporary design issues and contexts through enquiry and presentation.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

? Source, review and discuss design related issues or topics in a scholarly manner as evidenced through the presentation of critical argument.

Personal Values Attributes (PVA):

? Show a fundamental awareness of global, cultural and ethical issues and responsible design practice through design context studies.

Block 1 (50% of assessment)

A portfolio submission of exercises/assignments, completed throughout the teaching block. These assignments encourage you to think critically about design in both historical and contemporary contexts, and to develop your skills in research, visual analysis and academic writing.


Block 2 (50% of assessment)

A portfolio submission of exercises/assignments, completed throughout the teaching block. These assignments enable you to demonstrate your understanding of the subject and your acquisition of key skills.

N/A

N/A

Few forms of creative, intellectual and commercial activity reach into so many areas of public and private life as design. This module introduces students to the broad field of design culture. Exploring the history and theory of design, we will consider how design disciplines act and interact in the world and how design is shaped by the cultural contexts in which it is produced and consumed. The taught sessions will examine the history of design through a chronological survey of key styles, movements and practitioners from c.1800 to the present. We will consider the underlying social and cultural factors that have shaped the history of design, alongside critical issues in contemporary design such as consumerism, globalisation, transculturation and post-colonialism. As students familiarise themselves with these issues, they will develop skills in critical thinking and the cultural and ethical awareness needed for a successful career in design. Through lectures, seminars, workshops and fieldtrips, students will develop study skills vital for both academic success and professional design practice. Students will develop an ability to conduct and apply detailed analytical research and visual analysis to design practice and build confidence to articulate viewpoints clearly in speech and writing.