DE4017 - Design History, Context and Theory

This module will be based on a learning-by doing-approach. You will learn how to conduct design research by undertaking various reflective tasks aligned with online and live lectures. In the planned seminars and workshops, your tutors and peers will offer formative feedback on your development, your growing understanding of your discipline’s heritage and its contribution to social issues in the 21st century.

As the module progresses, you will plan and undertake a report deconstructing and discussing an example of design practice. You will be asked to consider its historical context and interrogate its impact in terms of ethics and/or social responsibility. You will deliver your report in a reflective image and text zine publication.

Your tutor/s will give online and live lectures, run seminar sessions and workshops to support your learning of these key historical, contextual, and theoretical issues as well as introduce you to a variety of methods related to design research. You will be supported in establishing your own report through critiques by your tutors and peers. Formative feedback will take place throughout the module.

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:

• Demonstrate an understanding of a range of research techniques and analytical tools that are applicable to design research. (KU01)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Identity, research, plan and deliver a research report using appropriate methods and tools. (IPSA01)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Awareness of multi-cultural environments and the ethical and responsible considerations of your design discipline. (PVA02)

• Use effective written, visual or verbal communication skills to professionally present and defend your work. (PVA04)

This module will be summatively assessed at the end of the module through a portfolio submission.

You will be assessed on the submission of the following elements:

1. Evidence of a range of formative reflective tasks. (KU01)
2. Up to 1250-word reflective Zine Publication, which should include visual sources and evidence of academic referencing, appropriate image captioning and a bibliography.
(KU01, IPSA01, PVA02, PVA04)

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

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This module introduces you to your design discipline from social and historical perspectives and details its subsequent evolution in culture towards the digitally mediated mixed realities of the 21st century. At the same time, you will become familiar with key issues such as ethics, social responsibility, intersectionality and multiculturism. You will also be introduced to design research methods that underpin knowledge and understanding and will learn how to use the University and its resources to support your ongoing research.