Overview

This unit of study introduces students to the fundamentals of design exploration: visual and tactile conceptualisation and basic design representation appropriate to different design disciplines in the context of creative problem solutions. Students will apply design methodology, design principles, design theory as well as software skills to projects. The unit also aims to provide an analytical, conceptual and experimental basis that directly relates to the design process.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Date Pathways Teaching 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
24-February-2025
30-May-2025
Last self-enrolment date
09-March-2025
Census date
21-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-May-2025
Results released date
10-June-2025
Date Pathways Teaching 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
23-June-2025
26-September-2025
Last self-enrolment date
06-July-2025
Census date
18-July-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
15-August-2025
Results released date
07-October-2025
Date Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
20-October-2025
30-January-2026
Last self-enrolment date
02-November-2025
Census date
14-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
12-December-2025
Results released date
10-February-2026

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Identify and implement key elements and principles of design
  • Interpret the mark as a medium of ideation, visual problem solving and design representation
  • Prepare a workbook/folio to document methods of exploration and ideas
  • Examine sequential design and the communication of idea, information and narrative
  • Develop concepts and ideas, using experimentation for creative and sustainable solutions
  • Reflect on and evaluate visual and tactile research documentation, mapping and visualisation techniques

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
(Workshop)		 1.00  12 weeks  12
On-campus
(Lab 1)		 2.00  12 weeks  24
On-campus
(Lab 2)		 2.00  12 weeks  24
Unspecified Activities
(Independent Learning)		 7.50  12 weeks  90
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Project 1 Individual 30 - 50%  1,2,3
Project 2 Individual 25 - 35%  1,2,4 
Project 3 Individual 25 - 35%  4,5,6

Content

Students will explore the design process using visualisation methods that may include:

  • Mark-making as analysis, representation, communication
  • Imaging as idea, gesture, information
  • Design representation techniques
  • Compilation of Workbook/folio as a way of documenting design process and ideas
  • Sequential design and narrative exploration
  • Basic communication design process
  • Document a variety of processes and methods for design conceptualisation
  • Exploration and experimentation of a wide variety of mediums and visual techniques through analysis, representation and communication
  • Formatting and layout of text and images

Study resources

Reading materials

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