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Unit outline_

IDEA9202: IDEA Studio 2

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The aim of the studio is to explore new interaction possibilities offered by emerging digital technologies through a design-led approach. Each studio is based around one or more design projects, which address a specialised area of study, supported by lectures and workshops to introduce the relevant theory, knowledge and design precedents. The specialized areas of study will vary from semester to semester, ranging for example from small-scale wearable devices to large-scale environments, and will reflect contemporary issues in interaction, art, design, culture and technology. The studio aims to develop the student's conceptual design abilities together with their technical skills, within the framework of a highly creative, research-based and human-centred design process. Students will be expected to apply interaction design methodologies to their project work and follow a design-oriented approach to the development of a solution, through experimentation and iterative prototyping.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 12
Prerequisites
? 
IDEA9106
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Clare Cooper, clare.cooper@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Clare Cooper, clare.cooper@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Joanne Martin, joanne.l.martin@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment group assignment Research and inspiration
Research.
20% Week 06 20 slides, text/visuals
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO5
Assignment Workbook
Written documentation
20% Week 09 100 words per entry
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO7
Assignment group assignment Design document and concept video
Design document and video
30% Week 13 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Design prototype, process and teamwork
Written task
30% Weekly n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO7
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Research and inspiration: The first assignment is the Research and Inspiration phase of the design project. Background, site and user research will be conducted to explore the problem outlined in the design brief. A set of initial concepts will be generated through ideation processes and communicated through storyboards and/or interaction scenarios. A separate set of presentation slides should be prepared for an in-class presentation.
  • Design process and teamwork: This assignment asks you to plan and document your design process as it unfolds over the
    semester. Each entry will write up the work done each week on the project, and provide an evidence trail of the design thinking and making of the design project in action. Teamwork project
    management and conflict resolution will be included in the weekly reports.
  • Design document and concept video: This assignment asks you to prepare a set of final design documentation to capture the design concept, process, grounding research, detailed design, evaluation and outcomes. You will also create a concept video to communicate the problem/opportunity, the concept, the setting, the user behaviour, the interaction and the benefits of your design solution for the chosen context. A separate set of presentation slides should be prepared for an in-class presentation.
  • Workbook: This goal of this assignment is to encourage you to document the development of your observational skills and aesthetic sensibility related to qualities of body, movement, and space, within various contexts, perspectives and frames of reference. You will participate in class activities, read articles, find inspiration, and even extend your learning outside of formal class activities.

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

Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

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 Welcome, unit overview and getting to know each other Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Friday: Mapping visible and invisible histories Workshop (3 hr)  
Week 02 Applied Futuring and Speculative Design; Mapping Collaborators and Stakeholders Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Friday: Drivers of Change; Teamwork (forming teams and creating team charter) Workshop (3 hr)  
Week 03 Artistic approaches to navigating and interacting with archives; Design Timescapes and the Double Variable Method Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Friday: Finalising Groups; Applying the Double Variable Method to the possible futures of the Tin Sheds Workshop (3 hr)  
Week 04 Storywork, Living Archives and Indigenous-led approaches to interacting with and respecting archives Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Design mentoring for individual students Studio (3 hr)  
Week 05 Sociotechnical imagination and transition: Feminist, Queer and Decolonial approaches to archives; Design mentoring for student project groups Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Design mentoring for student project groups Studio (3 hr)  
Week 06 Student presentations - Research and Inspiration Presentation (3 hr)  
Spatial Interaction, movement and connection Workshop (3 hr)  
Week 07 User testing and evaluation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Design mentoring for student project groups Studio (3 hr)  
Week 08 Thursday & Friday: Student presentations and peer review of project progress Presentation (6 hr)  
Week 09 Thursday & Friday: Design mentoring for individual students Studio (6 hr)  
Week 10 Thursday & Friday: Online testing and user evaluation Studio (6 hr)  
Week 11 Thursday & Friday: Design mentoring for student project groups Studio (6 hr)  
Week 12 Thursday & Friday: Design mentoring for student project groups Studio (6 hr)  
Week 13 Thursday & Friday: Student group presentations of Final Design Studio (6 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

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 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 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. select and apply interaction design processes, methods and tools to help plan and carry out a research-led design project
  • LO2. generate and evaluate novel and interesting interaction design concepts in response to design briefs
  • LO3. identify and apply aesthetic principles to create and refine the aesthetic quality of design solutions
  • LO4. demonstrate technical competency in prototyping for novel and creative interactive applications and interactive experiences
  • LO5. communicate persuasively through diverse forms of media the value of design proposals and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences
  • LO6. collaborate effectively as a team to bring together requisite skills to plan, implement and complete design projects
  • LO7. work independently, with an ability to make independent judgements, reflect, self-evaluate and self-improve, and incorporate the feedback of others.

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.

Changes have been made to the unit in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.