Outline

Overview

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

Academic unit	Design Lab
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	(DECO1006 or DECO2016) and DECO1012 and DESN1001 and DECO1015
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Clare Cooper, clare.cooper@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Natalia Gulbransen-Diaz, natalia.gulbransen-diaz@sydney.edu.au
	Brendon Drury, brendon.drury@sydney.edu.au
	James Hancock, james.hancock@sydney.edu.au
	Nusardel Oshana, nusardel.oshana@sydney.edu.au
	Helena Pitko, katri.pitko@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Attendance	Attendance Students are required to meet the minimum 90% attendance to pass this unit.	0%	Multiple weeks	Duration of class
Outcomes assessed:
Supervised test ?	Early Feedback Quiz #earlyfeedbacktask	0%	Week 03	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Crafting a professional position A written research position and short video submission	30%	Week 05 Due date: 23 Mar 2025 at 23:59	Two pages + video submission
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Portfolio Case Studies Creating a Behance profile that includes a 100 word position statement, and two examples of design work. Crafting two invitations to potential employers.	40%	Week 07 Due date: 06 Apr 2025 at 23:59	Three A4 pages of graphics and text
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Career Strategy Design timescape with an accompanying page that includes your motivations for pursuing design (100 words), current skillset (100 words), and two potential divergent scenarios for you in 10 years (150 words each). 3 A4 pages maximum and supplied as a PDF.	30%	Week 13 Due date: 28 May 2025 at 23:59	Three A4 pages
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = AI allowed ? = early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

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 that interests you (job advert), critically analyse and reflect on the skills and capacities required, and write a 200-word position statement. You should also record and submit a short elevator pitch video. 2 pages and video submission.

Assessment 2: Portfolio Case Studies

This assessment task requires you to create a Behance profile that includes a 100 word position statement, and two examples of your work to date. In selecting your examples, you should consider the intended audience, industry, and outcome.

You are to identify two designers on Behance that you admire (could be an employer or future collaborator) and craft an engaging and succinct message introducing yourself, directing them to one of your work samples, and inviting them to meet you for a coffee or to pitch them a creative concept.

This submission should be the equivalent of 3 A4 pages of graphics and text.

Assessment 3: Career Strategy

The assessment task requires you to demonstrate your understanding of the recent past, present, and possible futures of design, and to think critically and strategically about your role within it. Your strategy should include a design timescape (1 page) with an accompanying page that includes your motivations for pursuing design (100 words), current skillset (100 words), and two potential divergent scenarios for you in 10 years (150 words each). 3 A4 pages maximum and supplied as a PDF.

Attendance: Students should be present and engaged in their learning during classes. Late arrival/early departure will be deemed as an absence. Students who do not meet the minimum 90% threshold, who have approved special consideration may be offered the opportunity to sit an alternative assessment to pass this unit.

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 guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site.

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.

Learning support

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 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. 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

Weekly schedule

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

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

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit has been updated based on student feedback.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

DECO2020: Professional Design Practice

Semester 1, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links