Toolbox for Prototyping and Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Overview
This unit aims to introduce students to the concept of prototyping as a core method for creative problem-solving and develop a language for enabling interdisciplinary collaboration in the context of innovation projects. Students will develop literacy in a range of different physical prototyping techniques to generate ideas, test with potential users and engage experts. Through key elements of prototyping they will find solutions to problems in cross-disciplinary working groups. Students will learn how to leverage an innovation ecosystem to support their project and how to engage in projects with high levels of personal and collaborative responsibility.
Requisites
Rule
100 credit points for all other courses
OR
50 credit points in Bachelor of Innovation and Design
01-June-2025
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Use appropriate materials/processes for prototyping and make prototypes of appropriate resolution, to achieve a desired outcome relevant to the stage of an innovation project
- Construct appropriate collaboration and co-creation processes for working in an interdisciplinary team
- Identify and apply appropriate methods for testing prototypes with users, and document learnings
- Apply a range of methods, tools and frameworks for generating, sharing and refining ideas
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 | 7.00 | 12 weeks | 84 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 2.50 | 12 weeks | 30 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Project: Production Documentation | Group | 30% | 1,2,4 |
| Proposal and Prototype | Group | 40% | 1,3,4 |
| Reflective Piece | Individual | 30% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
- Innovation culture
- Prototyping as a method for creative problem solving
- Prototyping to support collaboration in interdisciplinary teams
- Prototyping to test and develop ideas
- Various techniques for creating physical and digital prototypes with different materials
- Divergent and convergent thinking
- Interdisciplinary collaboration concepts and constructive conflict
- Innovation process (working with uncertainty, Â learning from failure, Â exploring problems space before defining a solution)
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.