BAPD1000 Design office - the designer role Course description

The course promotes knowledge about design as a professional subject. It comprises two periods, where the first period of about two weeks is a preliminary course focusing on different methods or knowledge related to the profession. The second period lasting the remaining four weeks is a collaboration between the bachelor students on all three years of the programme. The students will be divided into groups across classes. In this period, students will practise the theory/subject matter they have learnt from the first period, where the groups work with an external client and/or on external issues.

Admission to the programme.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student is familiar with:

• the designer’s role in society and how design knowledge can contribute to different types of problem solving
• the different phases of a design project
• project planning as a basis for realising a design assignment
• problem formulation as a management tool
• different methods of increasing creativity
• basic methods of team work and good group dynamics

Skills

The student:

• is aware of his/her own and other people’s influence in group work
• knows basic terminology relating to design/the role of designers
• knows different methods of creative processes
• knows different techniques for making 2D and 3D sketches

Competence

The student:

• is familiar with relevant ethical issues such as privacy and copyright relating to the discipline and the profession and is aware of professional attitudes in the design field
• is capable of exchanging points of view and experience with others in the field and in this way contribute to developing good practice
• is capable of reflecting on his/her own development in the learning process and adjusting it
• is capable of working in a team on a joint topic towards a common goal

The work methods used in the different groups/design assignments will vary. In general, there will be:

• lectures
• team work with discussions on topics such as:
  • needs, problems
  • principle solutions (concepts) and ideas
  • choice of solution
  • presentation of solution
• work in 2D and 3D media
• physical modelling in suitable materials
• workshops

• papers and presentations

The following coursework is compulsory and must be approved in order to pass the exam:

• a minimum of 80% attendance in the Design Office project. The attendance requirement applies from when the students commence work in their respective teams. (last 4 weeks of the module (period 2)).
• oral presentation in groups where all group members contribute (period 1)
• reflection note

If the attendance requirement is not met, students must complete an additional written assignment. This assignment shall address:

• the design assignment
• the designer’s role

Practical exam in groups.

Through a group project in collaboration with fellow students in year two and three of the BA programme students are expected to develop proposals for solving real world assignments. Each group is tasked with an individual project from a unique client, all of which will have differing requirements. The group must identify which presentation formats and materials are most appropriate in order to communicate how solutions are to meet client needs.  The module concludes with a visual group presentation, invariably supported by physical scale models and/or protypes; digital and/or other solutions. The work must be developed with consideration to client specifications; it must be relevant and contain all of the necessary elements ready for production and/or implementation.

Exam results cannot be appealed.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Pass/fail.

One internal examiner. External examinator is used periodically.