Overview

This unit explores key issues in contemporary design and media practice and their relation to social, economic and political contexts. Students will be introduced to appropriate research and writing methodologies and apply these skills to design practice and projects.

Requisites

Prerequisites
DDD10001 Twentieth Century Design
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
10-March-2025
08-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
23-March-2025
Census date
04-April-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-May-2025
Results released date
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
07-July-2025
05-October-2025
Last self-enrolment date
20-July-2025
Census date
01-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
22-August-2025
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
03-November-2025
08-February-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-November-2025
Census date
28-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-January-2026
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Investigate and analyse design and media issues in relation to social, economic and political contexts using primary sources
  • Articulate a range of contemporary issues related to design and media practice
  • Use a body of relevant critical theory in the form of an argument and apply it to design and/or media practice
  • Develop a cohesive argument about a design issue that articulates a point of view, suitable for a published (professional) journal

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Studio		3.00 12 weeks 36
Unspecified Activities
Various		4.00 12 weeks 48
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		5.50 12 weeks 66
TOTAL150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning		12.50 12 weeks 150
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentIndividual 0% 1,3,4 
Skill-building TasksIndividual 0% 2,3 
Weekly written online responsesIndividual 0% 1,2,3 

Content

The unit will explore a wide range of thematic areas that may include discussions on topics such as:

  • The role of design, new technologies and new materials in the 21st Century
  • Cross/inter-disciplinary practices in design and new media
  • Key contemporary practitioners
  • Design philosophies
  • Aesthetics in the 21st Century
  • Design for environmental and social sustainability
  • Design for emotion

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.