Skip to main content
Unit outline_

DESN3000: Design Thinking for Health and Medicine

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Westmead, Sydney

This unit is an introduction to human-centred design methods, specifically in the context of future challenges of the type you will face in careers health and medicine. You will learn design principles and practices through evaluating current health and medical devices, processes and systems. Through the analysis of real-world case studies, you will apply design thinking methods to address the complex health and medical issues facing society. The unit will also introduce you to how design-led strategies can support healthy behaviour or be used to improve medical technologies and processes. You will develop your skills by using design exercises to demonstrate the strategic and practical applications of such methods and approaches.

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

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Naseem Ahmadpour, naseem.ahmadpour@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Naseem Ahmadpour, naseem.ahmadpour@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Case study presentation
Case Study Presentation
10% Week -05 10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO4
Assignment Case study report
Case study, report
20% Week -05 approx. 20 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Small continuous assessment group assignment Design hackathon
Design Hackathon
20% Week 09 6 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation group assignment Presentation of Design Proposal
Presentation of Design Proposal
10% Week 13 10 min
Outcomes assessed: LO5
Assignment group assignment Health design project
Design Proposal
40% Week 13 20-30 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Case study report: The aim of this assessment is to develop your understanding of the role of design in the context of health and medicine. In order to do this you will individually conduct case study research. Through this research you will explore three instances where design was utilised in health and medicine (i.e. to solve a problem, improve a product or service, or create something new and innovative). You will elaborate on the role design played in the case studies, and discuss how the key insights learned from these case studies will inform your design process(es).
  • Case study presentation: You will present your case study from assignment 1. This presentation will outline the journey from
    user needs and scientific concepts to a resolved design.
  • Design hackathon: This assessment consists of a number of in-class design exercises, along with a design hackathon. The design hackathon will be completed in-class, with the problem space and assessment requirements for the hackathon being self-contained and delivered within the tutorials. The design hackathon will conclude with a short presentation by each group.
  • Health design project: Students will be provided a problem space in the context of health and medicine, and will be required to design an artefact which addresses prevalent issues in this context. Such a design will require students to conduct research (primary and secondary), ideate, prototype, and test their solutions. This assessment item will be graded based on the design process, final design solution, and presentation.
  • Health Design presentation: You will present your health design proposaL.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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: 1. Iterative design the key to successful problem solving 2. Co-designing health solutions Lecture (2 hr) LO1
1. Introducing assessment items 1 and 2, getting started on case study analysis 2. Workshop on Co-design Seminar (4 hr) LO1
Week 03 Reflective or persuasive? Fulfilling basic human needs in design for health Lecture (2 hr) LO3
1. From data to knowledge in design research: clustering and thematic analysis 2. Representing users, capturing patterns of consumption, defining problem space Seminar (4 hr) LO2 LO6
Week 05 Presentation of case studies Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3
1. Introducing assessment items 3 and 4 2. Guest clinical experts pitching projects 2. Setting goals and defining problem space Seminar (4 hr) LO3 LO6
Week 07 Using tangible, embodies, and speculative methods Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO6
1. Finalizing project scope 2. Developing your co-design tools (assessment 4-1) Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 09 Hackathon (topic will be announced in week 7) Lecture (1 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6
Prepare presentation slides with background research in advance, submit slides on Canvas at the end of the hackathon Seminar (2 hr) LO6
Week 11 Testing, refining and re-iterating design concepts Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6
1. Testing and experience prototyping 2. Workshop on visualizing the background and design precedence Seminar (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Final presentations Seminar (4 hr) LO6

Attendance and class requirements

The School’s requirement of 90% attendance is waived. Participation in this unit is required via online components.

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School: http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/architecture/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml

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.

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. demonstrate expertise in assessing the requirements of a design problem
  • LO2. understand methods for ideation, prototyping, and evaluation, and their application in the different stages of a design project
  • LO3. understand how to devise solutions that respond to user needs
  • LO4. demonstrate proficiency in prototyping designs that address complex problems through innovative ideas
  • LO5. evaluate the performance and experience of a design solution
  • LO6. work effectively in teams and in an interdisciplinary context.

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.

This is the first time this unit has been offered

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.