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Unit of study_

DECO2020: Professional Design Practice

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The Professional Practice in Design unit of study aims to develop an understanding of the core professional and practice-based roles and responsibilities of designer in industry, including project management, copyright and intellectual property, and ethics. The unit also provides knowledge in identifying, planning, and delivering a strategy for professional career development, preparing students through professional standard portfolio creation, self-promotion, and application advice, and developing interview and presentation skills.

Unit details and rules

Unit code DECO2020
Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
(DECO1006 or DECO2016) and DECO1012 and DESN1001 and DECO1015
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Leigh-Anne Hepburn, leigh-anne.hepburn@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Elanor Finch, elanor.finch@sydney.edu.au
Jody Watts, jody.watts@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Crafting a research position
A written research position and short video submission
30% Week 05
Due date: 18 Mar 2024 at 23:59
Two pages + video submission
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3
Assignment Portfolio Case Studies
Two portfolio case studies submitted in digital and pdf formats
40% Week 07
Due date: 29 Apr 2024 at 23:59
4 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO1 LO4
Assignment Career Strategy
Written industry research and career strategy
30% Week 13
Due date: 20 May 2024 at 23:59
8-10 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Assessment summary

Assessment 1: Crafting a research position

This assessment task requires you to consider how you understand and position yourself as a design practitioner within the current professional design landscape. You should identify a professional design role (job advert), critically analyse and reflect on the skills and capacities required, and write 200 word position statement. You should also record and submit a short elevator pitch video.

Assessment 2: Portfolio Case Studies

This assessment task requires you to compile two case studies (digital and pdf) of your own design practice, including a 100 word position statement and identification of key skills. In designing case studies, you should consider the intended audience, industry, and outcome.

Assessment 3: Career Strategy

The assessment task requires you demonstrate your knowledge of the professional design marketplace, and think strategically about your chosen career path. Your strategy should be 8-10 pages in length and should include a review of your strengths, weaknesses, motivators, and values; identified opportunities and leverage points; goals and actions.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2021, (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction of work of a very high standard, a credit of work of a good standard, and a pass work of 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

Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

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:

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School, Part 3, 8.2: https://www.sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2022/542&RendNum=0

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Design as a professional practice Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1
Week 02 Positionality and practice Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 03 Building a professional design career Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Contextualising Practice Panel #1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Professional design portfolios Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Internships and design experiences Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Interviews Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Design Assessment Centre Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 09 Contextualising Practice Panel #2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 10 Project management Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 11 Ethical and legal considerations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 12 Strategic planning Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Contextualising Practice Panel #3 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4

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 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

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. Demonstrate a critical understanding of design as a profession and understand the diversity of contemporary practices and applications of design in professional contexts.
  • LO2. Explore and understand issues, dilemmas, and challenges in professional design practice, including ethics, ethical practices, and legal obligations relating to copyright and intellectual property requirements.
  • LO3. Develop a confident professional design practitioner position and understanding of personal design practice within the discipline and broader professional context.
  • LO4. Develop appropriate strategies for professional development, including presentation, portfolio, exhibition, and writing, to focus on specific career opportunities.

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.

This unit has been updated based on student feedback.

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.