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Unit of study_

DECO3101: Innovation Design Studio

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit of study provides a format for deep engagement with design and innovation methods. Students will develop responses to a real-world design problem that requires the application of students' existing disciplinary skills combined with knowledge in an interdisciplinary context. Projects are student-led, allowing students to identify projects that are linked to their interests and discipline-specific career paths. Through interactive group work, facilitated by experienced design mentors, students will learn how to negotiate interdisciplinary requirements and boundaries. All projects developed in this unit of study are expected to address some element of innovation in an existing product, service or process. Students will be able to apply methods acquired in other units of study, and will learn about new methods through weekly project work and reviews.

Unit details and rules

Unit code DECO3101
Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
DECO2016 or DECO1006
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Brittany Klaassens, brittany.klaassens@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment group assignment Team Manifesto and Problem/Solution Definition
A report and slides describing the approach to team innovation
25% Week 05 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO7
Assignment group assignment Concept Pitches with Stakeholders
Students will pitch concepts and participate in student-led feedback.
25% Week 08 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment group assignment Design Project
A business case and final design poster
50% Week 13 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?
Group assignment with individually assessed component = group assignment with individually assessed component ?

Assessment summary

  • Online Tutorial Activities: Weekly activities to be submitted at the end of week 5
  • Design Project: The design project is assessed on the final design solution and the aligning business case. The outcome is assessed on a number of criteria including how the solution meets the needs of the target user, industry and overall “inventionous” of the idea. The design project is to be submitted in the form of a business case and a final design poster. 
  • Reflective Task: This is an individual task which requires each student to reflect on their personal design process and working in a multidisciplinary team. The design process will need to be outlined week by week, including what design tools were implemented and how this impact the design solution. Students will be provided with three questions which they must reflect upon and write their response. Students must include references to the readings provided throughout the semester
Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

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

Standard late penalties apply

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Unit Introduction Design Innovation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 02 Creating a Culture for Innovation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 03 New Product Development & Types of Innovation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 04 Segments and Business models Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 05 Competitive Positioning and Branding Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 06 Idea generation and inspiration Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 07 Path to Market Strategies Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 08 Concept presentations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 09 Constructing prototypes Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 10 Visualising Solutions Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 11 Stakeholder Consultations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 12 Project work Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 13 Final Pitch Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School: http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/architecture/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml

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. assess the requirements of a design problem
  • LO2. identify which methods for ideation, prototyping and evaluation to use at what stage of a project
  • LO3. apply ideation and design methods for developing solutions that synthesise insights from a need-finding process
  • LO4. prototype designs that address complex problems through innovative ideas
  • LO5. evaluate the performance and experience of a design solution
  • LO6. reflectively document and present process and designed solutions
  • LO7. work effectively in teams and in an interdisciplinary context.

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.

Changes to the assessment to include more individual components

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.