Credit Points: 30
Study Time: 300 Hours

This unit aims to consolidate and extend your previous knowledge and understanding acquired. Practical print and screen-based projects will allow you to realise concepts in relation to theoretical, critical, conceptual frameworks.

Outline Syllabus

Contemporary design often focuses on the needs of the user. Using a given scenario, you will describe the situation from the perspective of the user, identify a problem, and use Graphic Design as a means to provide a solution to the problem, using any media that you decide are appropriate.

You will undertake an individual or team-based programme of work, through the use of learning agreements that are negotiated with the teaching team in order to satisfy agreed, aims and objectives, and aspirations and interests.

Your project must be supported by a written report that locates and contextualises your solution in relationship to contemporary design practice (informed through earlier visits to consultancies) and identifies the needs of the user and establishes how your final solution responds to these needs.

Method of Delivery
Lectures, seminars, tutorials, critiques and learning teams, visits to design groups.

Aims

A1 To consolidate and develop your command of creative, intellectual and practical skills acquired.
A2 To encourage independent learning, collaboration, self-management and critical self-awareness.
A3 To apply appropriate theoretical knowledge and understanding and independent judgment in order to achieve creative design solutions through practical work.
A4 To develop your ability to identify problems, justify solutions and locate your solution in relationship to contemporary design practice through a written report.

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit you will be able to:

LO1 Demonstrate that you have transferred creative, intellectual and practical skill acquired.
LO2 Confidently manage and reflect on your own learning within the context of an individual or collaborative practical project.
LO3 Identify your understanding of relevant theoretical concepts.
LO4 Demonstrate a given problem and justify your design and locate your solution in relationship to contemporary design practice.

Reference Material

Key
Dust, F. and IDEO. (2008). IDEO Eyes Open: London: A Field Guide for the Curious. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.
Fry, T. (2009) Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice. Oxford: Berg
Klanten, R., Bourquin, N., Ehmann, S., (Eds). (2008) Data Flow: Visualising Information in Graphic Design. Berlin: Die Gestalten Verlag

Electronic Key Texts
Electronic Key Texts, which are prefixed with a #-symbol are important extracts from books or journal articles that may be accessed from any desktop or laptop computer on or off-site, viewed by multiple users simultaneously and are available from the University College's Blackboard webpage.

# Antonelli, P., and Aldersey-Williams, H. (2008) Design and the Elastic Mind. New York: Museum of Modern Art pp. 46-57.
# Hara, K. (2008) Designing Design. Switzerland: Lars Muller Publishers. pp. 68-148
# Mau, B. (2004). Massive Change: A manifesto for the future global design culture. London: Phaidon Press. pp. 15-19

Recommended
Benyus, J. (1998). Biomimicry: Innovation inspired by nature. London: William Morrow & Co
Cassim, J. (1999). Innovate 1, 2, 3,: The journal of the small business programme of the Helen Hamlyn research centre. London: Helen Hamlyn Research Centre Fawcett, R. -Tang, R., and Owen, W. (2002). Mapping. London: Rotovision
Gerber, A. (2004). All messed up: Unpredictable graphics. London: Laurence King.
Myerson, J. (2004). Ideo: Masters of Innovation. (2ndrev. ed.). London: Laurence King.
Kelly, T. (2003). The art of innovation: Success through innovation the IDEO way. London: Profile Business.
Norman, D. (2004). Emotional design: Why we love (or hate) everyday things. USA: Basic Books
Otto, B. (2002). Searching for solutions: An overview of sustainable design, report for the design council. London: Design Council.
Ramaker, P (2002). Less + More: Droog design in context. Rotterdam: 010 Publishers .

Magazines and Journals
Baseline // Communication Arts // Creative Review // Eye Magazine // Graphik // Visible Language