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Unit outline_

IDEA9301: Graduation Studio

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This is the culminating studio of the Master of Interaction Design and Electronic Arts that provides students with a capstone experience. The aim of this studio is to draw together and synthesise the learning that has taken place during the whole degree. Students develop a design project based on an industry or community-focused brief. Students will work in small teams or individually to produce a design proposal that addresses contemporary issues, and incorporates innovative applications of digital or emergent technologies. The submitted design work will be high quality, suitable for professional presentation and portfolio.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 12
Prerequisites
? 
48 credit points including (18 credit points from IDEA9103 and IDEA9105 and IDEA9106) and (18 credit points from IDEA9101 or IDEA9102 or IDEA9201 or IDEA9202)
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Yasemin Tekmen Araci, yasemin.tekmenaraci@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Yasemin Tekmen Araci, yasemin.tekmenaraci@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Moe Qashlan, moe.qashlan@sydney.edu.au
Christina Liu, christina.liu@sydney.edu.au
Nina Osada-Phornsiri, nina.osada-phornsiri@sydney.edu.au
Rully Zakaria, rully.zakaria@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment A5: Online Portfolio
A website documenting of a cohesive portfolio
25% STUVAC
Due date: 12 Nov 2023 at 23:59
Digital Product
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO6 LO5
Presentation group assignment A1: Design Project and Presentation 1
Research and understanding the problem space
10% Week 04
Due date: 24 Aug 2023 at 11:00
10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Presentation group assignment A2: Design Project and Presentation 2
Design solutions and concepts
10% Week 08
Due date: 21 Sep 2023 at 11:00
10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Presentation group assignment A3: Design project and Final presentation
Professional design pitch
20% Week 12
Due date: 26 Oct 2023 at 11:00
10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment A4: Final prototype
A functioning prototype of a digital output
20% Week 12
Due date: 26 Oct 2023 at 23:59
Submitted work
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment A6: Reflective essay
A critical reflection of design process
15% Week 13
Due date: 05 Nov 2023 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

A1 Presentation 1 is concerned with researching and understanding the problem, resulting in the identification of opportunities for innovation. You will make a case for pursuing specific opportunities informed by your user and background research.

A2 Presentation 2 is concerned with ideation, resulting in exploring potential research or design solutions through a combination of design thinking methodologies. You should converge on a single research or design concept and showcase a low fidelity prototype of the chosen design concept.  

A3 Final Presentation further refines your design concept. Further user testing and iterative design should assist in enhancing the usefulness, usability and optimal user experience of the solution. In the presentation, you should showcase a high-fidelity prototype of the design concept. This presentation will be in the form of a professional pitch to your industry partner rather than describing your project process. Your aim should be to convince them to fund your project.

A4 Final Prototype. The aim of this assignment is to create a functioning prototype of a digital output that addresses a specific problem or fulfills a particular need depending on the design brief provided. The prototype will be presented in your final presentation.

A5 Online Portfolio. The aim of this assignment is to work on the documenting skills of a cohesive portfolio of student work throughout the MIDEA program. 

A6 Reflective essay. The aim of this assignment is to critically examine students' design process during this semester and to work on reflective skills in this process.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

See school policy.

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 unit and project brief Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Getting to know each other Ethical considerations in design Reframing the project brief Studio (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 Project brief Guest lecture: Industry partner Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Forming groups Brainstorming session Studio (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Participatory design research methods Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Developing a research plan Ideation Studio (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Presentation skills Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Group presentations in-class Studio (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05 Developing effective portfolios Lecture (1 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Begin designing portfolios Studio (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Expert panel discussion on professional practice Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Reflection on designer skills Continue project Studio (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6
Week 07 Product development process Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Product development Continue project Studio (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 In class presentations Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
In class presentations Studio (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Collaborative design Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Co-design Usability testing Studio (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 10 Expert panel discussion on employability skills Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Product development Continue project Studio (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 11 Pitching design ideas Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Peer review feedback session of Online portfolios Studio (2 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 12 Future of design Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Final group presentations in-class Studio (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Reflection on learning Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Final student consultations on reflective essays and portfolios Studio (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

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.

Required readings

 

 

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. Formulate, plan and execute an individual/group design project in response to a design brief
  • LO2. Choose appropriate methods as part of a human-centred design process to suit the problem space
  • LO3. Analyse data from multiple sources to understand the problem space and ideate, iterate and improve potential design solutions.
  • LO4. Document and report research-led design work
  • LO5. Deliver evidence-based design presentations that are clear, confident and engaging to an external audience.
  • LO6. Critically analyse and reflect upon self and peer practices to identify and improve personal accountability in relation to the ethics and values of the discipline and profession.

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.

As per suggestions from previous semesters, lecture content, assignments, and the rubrics have been modified.

Additional costs

There might be some additional costs in the course depending on the direction of your design project.

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.