Design Research Studio C
Overview
The aim of this unit is for students to refine their creative thinking processes by generating, testing and resolving speculative design propositions that respond to a range of complex, contemporary global challenges at an advanced level. Students will utilise developed agile, nonlinear learning abilities to respond to uncertain outcomes and to make meaningful connections between challenging, contradictory or unlikely elements. Students will learn to take risks and learn from failure through design iteration whilst using architectural and/or urban design as to answer research questions. Students will identify a design challenge; set out an integrated design research question; articulate a design research method; and put forward a tested, rigorous and resolved design proposition, drawing conclusions about the weakness and strengths of their design approach.
Requisites
01-June-2025
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Use design ideation to pose and probe questions to identify opportunities for development of design proposals
- Demonstrate an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ aspirations to care for Country and how these inform architectural and/or urban design
- Apply creative imagination, design precedents, research, emergent knowledge and critical evaluation in formulating and refining concept design options, including the exploration of three dimensional form and spatial quality and clearly communicate and document outcomes via a diverse range of media
- Apply knowledge of architecture and/or urban design history, theories and technical skills at an advanced level to uncertain problems which have unfamiliar or emergent circumstances and incomplete information, and critically analyse and synthesise a range of data to formulate a design hypothesis at an advanced level.
- Apply planning and design concepts, skills and knowledge at the range of scales and spatial settings relevant to the design proposal at an advanced level utilizing analysis of site, culture, environment, regulations and codes
- Demonstrate skills in design resolution of a complex architectural and/or urban design program using appropriate forms of documentation to integrate space, materials, construction, structure and form to achieve sustainable environmental, social and cultural goals.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Activity Type | Activity | Total Hours | Number of Weeks | Hours Per Week | Venue Type and Activity Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus | Studio | 72 | 12 weeks | 6 | Design Seminar |
| Specified Activities | Various | 24 | 12 weeks | 2 | Online Content |
| Unspecified Activities | Various | 204 | 12 weeks | 17 | Independent study, Assignment preparation, Revision |
| Total Hours: | 300 | Total Hours (per week): | 25 | ||
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project and Presentation | Individual/Group | 60% | 2,4,5,6 |
| Project and Presentation | Individual/Group | 30% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| e-Portfolio | Individual | 10% | 1,2,3,4,5,6 |
Content
- Undertake a series of critical and explorative studio-based design speculations leading to a major design proposition
- Develop a design proposition investigating one or more key issues or approaches in depth, whilst demonstrating a thorough understanding of the broader implications of their proposal
- Use design as a mode of research and identify opportunities for further design exploration and development
- Examination of the inherent uncertainty in and around design projects
- Design ambitious and original propositions, well-resolved across a range of scales relevant to the proposal
- Respond to spatial, material, environmental, theoretical, historical, regulatory, social, cultural and ethical contexts as relevant to the proposal
- Clearly communicate and document propositions using verbal and graphic presentation using a variety of media and methods, including digital, mechanical or manual tools, appropriate to various audiences and purposes
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
- Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Collaboration and negotiation
- Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Teamwork roles and processes
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.