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Unit outline_

DECO1006: Design Process and Methods

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study provides an overview of a human-centred approach to the design of interactive technologies and environments. It introduces students to design thinking and how it can be productively applied to different design situations. The unit covers theoretical concepts, methods and tools used in human-centred design, including user research, ideation, prototyping and user evaluation. It provides students with the principles, processes and tools that are used in commercial design projects. Students learn to build empathy with users, identify the problem space, develop design concepts and persuasively communicate design proposals with an emphasis on the user experience through visual storytelling.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Adrian Wong, adrian.w@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Lian Loke, lian.loke@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Design concept proposal
Individual
35% STUVAC
Due date: 11 Jun 2023 at 23:59
15-20 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Design thinking method
Individual
30% Week 05
Due date: 26 Mar 2023 at 23:59
1-1.5 minute video
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment Conducting interviews
Individual
35% Week 09
Due date: 30 Apr 2023 at 23:59
10-15 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO2

Assessment summary

Assignment 1 - Design thinking method. The aim of this assignment is to further develop your knowledge and understanding of human-centred design methods. Working individually students will research one design thinking method (from the textbook - Design. Think. Make. Break. Repeat. A Handbook of Methods) and find two examples online that strongly demonstrate the use of that method. The case study will be presented as a 1-1.5 minute video presentation that clearly outlines the design thinking method researched, and how each example illustrates it.

Assignment 2 - Conducting interviews. The aim of this assignment is to acquire practical skills in user research in response to a given design brief. The first step of any design project is to develop an informed understanding of the design problem, through human-centred research. This sets up the foundation that is needed to ensure that your creative work will be a genuine response to the needs of the people who you are designing for.

The interview is a common technique for learning about the current practices of potential users, that can provide insight into user needs, motivations, values and issues. Working individually students will develop a set of interview questions, conduct interviews with 3-5 people, analyse the interview data using affinity diagramming, and reflect upon the results and process.

Assignment 3 - Design concept proposal. The aim of this assignment is to develop your ideation and conceptual design skills. Working individually students will follow a human-centred design process to iteratively develop, prototype and evaluate a design proposal that meets a design brief. The proposal is to be documented using visual communication and storytelling techniques, with an accompanying design rationale and reflection.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.

Credit

65 - 74

Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.

Pass

50 - 64

Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to design Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
The designer mindset Tutorial (2 hr) LO6
Week 02 Visual thinking Lecture (1 hr) LO4
Sketching and Sketch-noting Tutorial (2 hr) LO4
Week 03 User research part 1 Lecture (1 hr) LO2
Understanding context: observation and immersion Tutorial (2 hr) LO2
Week 04 User research part 2 Lecture (1 hr) LO2
Interviews Tutorial (2 hr) LO2
Week 05 Data synthesis. Representing users Lecture (1 hr) LO2
Affinity diagramming Tutorial (2 hr) LO2
Week 06 Design as a process: iterative, exploratory Lecture (1 hr) LO1
Sharing and peer critique of Assignment 1 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1
Week 07 Generating ideas part 1 Lecture (1 hr) LO3
Ideation Tutorial (2 hr) LO3
Week 08 Generating ideas part 2 Lecture (1 hr) LO3
Visual storytelling Tutorial (2 hr) LO4
Week 09 Prototyping Lecture (1 hr) LO5
Experience prototyping Tutorial (2 hr) LO5
Week 10 Open forum Lecture (1 hr) LO1
Low fidelity prototyping Tutorial (2 hr) LO4
Week 11 User evaluation Lecture (1 hr) LO5
Think-aloud protocol Tutorial (2 hr) LO5
Week 12 Responsible design. Ethical critique. Lecture (1 hr) LO6
Design evaluation with ethical critique Tutorial (2 hr) LO6
Week 13 Future of design Lecture (1 hr) LO1
USS feedback. Write a postcard to the future Tutorial (2 hr) LO1

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to attend 90% of timetabled activities, as per the school resolutions. https://www.sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2022/542&RendNum=0

 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

The unit will make use of the following textbook in tutorials and the assessment.

Tomitsch, M., Borthwick, M., Ahmadpour, N., Cooper, C., Frawley, J., Hepburn, L.A., Kocaballi, A.B., Loke, L., Núñez-Pacheco, C., ‎ Straker, K., ‎Wrigley, C. (2021). Design. Think. Make. Break. Repeat. A Handbook of Methods (revised edition). BIS Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Students can purchase a hardcopy or e-book version.

http://designthinkmakebreakrepeat.com/buy/

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. appreciate the principles and methodology of the human-centred design approach
  • LO2. engage in contextual inquiry to identify the need for a design
  • LO3. show imagination and competence in design ideation
  • LO4. communicate ideas and concepts visually
  • LO5. evaluate design ideas and proposals from the user perspective
  • LO6. reflect upon and critique design proposals from ethical principles

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The unit has been redeveloped to include the topic of responsible design and the ethics of design thinking. The assessment has been changed from group to all individual assignments, with a stronger focus on gaining competency in the essential human-centred design methods, rather than covering all of them.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.