About this major

The Major in Design will provide you with design and problem solving skills that can be applied across a wide range of disciplines. As the world becomes more complex, there is an increasing demand for graduates that are able to apply design as a way to solve problems, develop alternative points of view and disrupt existing models in responsible and ethical ways.

The Design Major will introduce you to the principles of responsible design, as well as design theory, visual communication, design innovation, situating innovations in collaboration with communities, and interface design of digital products and services. You will learn how to use design as an innovation method and how to apply design methods to a range of contexts, in social, physical, and digital environments.

The methods taught will enable you to develop different perspectives, explore multiple design solutions, understand how to tackle complex problems, clearly communicate ideas and strategies, critically assess current situations and environments, anticipate consequences, and develop strategies for ethical innovation.

Whatever path you choose your critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and research skills will be developed through interactive classes and assessment of "real-world" situations.

The units of study taken as part of the Major of Design will lead to the following learning outcomes: 

• Making effective use of written and visual means to critique, negotiate, create and communicate understanding.
• Understand the value of design methods for identifying, co-creating, and evaluating human-centred solutions to discipline-specific problems. 
• Experience in working on design problems that require interdisciplinary expertise and skill sets. 
• Capability to work in cross-disciplinary teams, contributing discipline-specific knowledge and communicating this knowledge to other team members. 
• Knowledge of design as capability-enhancing set of methods for solving non-linear, complex problems and expertise in applying such methods across a range of design contexts. 
• Ability to balance convergent and divergent approaches, examining ethical considerations, assessing the impact of design innovations on individuals, communities and society, while also applying higher-level thinking and critical reflection. 
• Proficiency in design methods, techniques and tools and how they relate within design movements and schools of thoughts.