Outline

Overview

This studio offers a context for students to apply design, technical and creative methods to the production of high-quality group work, with a strong focus on the development of high-impact portfolios. The studio allows students from the advanced studies stream to apply methods and principles of human-centred design in the context of new product development, and to engage with new technologies for interactive product design. Assignments will take the form of domain-specific group projects, allowing students to develop proficiency in the area of design most relevant to individual students. The unit will provide students with the skills to investigate and integrate advanced technologies into the design of objects with embedded information content and interactivity.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Design Lab
Credit points	12
Prerequisites ?	DECO1012 and DECO2200
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	DECO3200
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Joel Fredericks, joel.fredericks@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Portfolio or journal	A1: Design Reflection Design reflection	25%	Multiple weeks Due date: 18 Aug 2026 at 11:00	4 Pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	A2: Design Opportunity Pitch – Part 1 Design Opportunity Pitch	10%	Week 04 Due date: 25 Aug 2026 at 13:00	5 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Creative work	A2: Design Opportunity Pitch – Part 2 Concept Proposal	10%	Week 04 Due date: 30 Aug 2026 at 23:59	30 Pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	A3: User Testing and Evaluation User Testing Fair and Evaluation Report	20%	Week 08 Due date: 27 Sep 2026 at 23:59	N/A	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Creative work	A4: Final Design Solution Final design solution	35%	Week 13 Due date: 08 Nov 2026 at 23:59	NA	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

A1: Design Reflection: This individual assessment encourages you to reflect on your design process, learning, and contributions throughout the semester. Completed in two parts, it provides an opportunity to critically evaluate your progress, identify areas for improvement, and document your development as an interaction designer.

A2: Design Opportunity Pitch: This group assessment asks you to investigate a contemporary design challenge, frame a meaningful design opportunity, and communicate your proposed direction through a short pitch and visual design proposal. It establishes the foundation for your project and demonstrates your early research, problem framing, and concept development.

A3: User Testing and Evaluation: This group assessment focuses on planning and conducting user testing to evaluate your interactive product. Your team will facilitate user testing, gather and interpret feedback, and document how the findings inform the ongoing refinement of your design solution.

A4: Final Design Solution: This group assessment brings together the outcomes of your studio project through a final design showcase and a portfolio-ready design case study. You will demonstrate your final interactive product, communicate your design rationale, and present evidence of research, prototyping, testing, and refinement.

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 guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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	Select a contemporary challenge and begin initial research.	Practical (3 hr)
	Welcome and Housekeeping • Team introduction • Course Structure • Brief Introduction • Assignments	Lecture (1 hr)
	Understanding the brief, team formation, brainstorming.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	Research, stakeholder mapping and defining the project scope.	Practical (3 hr)
	Problem Framing and Design Opportunities	Lecture (1 hr)
	Framing the design challenge.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Validate the design challenge and prepare for the Design Opportunity Pitch.	Practical (3 hr)
	Research, Insights and Need-Finding	Lecture (1 hr)
	Synthesising research and identifying opportunities.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Develop and refine initial concepts.	Practical (3 hr)
	Ideation and Concept Development	Lecture (1 hr)
	Applying ideation methods.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Refine concepts based on feedback.	Practical (3 hr)
	Pitching Design Ideas	Lecture (1 hr)
	Design Opportunity Pitch.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	Develop low- to mid-fidelity prototypes.	Practical (3 hr)
	Prototyping Interactive Products	Lecture (1 hr)
	Prototyping methods and planning.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Finalise prototype and prepare for testing.	Practical (3 hr)
	Designing Effective User Testing	Lecture (1 hr)
	Planning and rehearsing user testing.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	User Testing Fair	Practical (3 hr)
	Evaluating Interactive Products	Lecture (1 hr)
	User Testing Fair	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Refine and improve the design solution.	Practical (3 hr)
	Interpreting Feedback and Iterating Designs	Lecture (1 hr)
	Analysing testing outcomes.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	Consultation, iteration and Design Reflection.	Practical (3 hr)
	AI as a Design Tool	Lecture (1 hr)
	Applying AI to support design development.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Refine final design and supporting artefacts.	Practical (3 hr)
	Professional Design Practice	Lecture (1 hr)
	Portfolio-ready communication.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Finalise design solution and exhibition materials.	Practical (3 hr)
	Preparing for Professional Presentation	Lecture (1 hr)
	Showcase preparation and critique.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	Final Design Showcase	Practical (3 hr)
	Beyond University: Presenting Your Work	Lecture (1 hr)
	Final Design Showcase.	Tutorial (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled classes in accordance with the School Resolutions. Attendance supports engagement with learning, feedback, critique and collaborative activities. Attendance records will be maintained throughout the semester. Where attendance falls below the expected level, the Unit Coordinator may exercise the discretion available under the School Resolution, including determining whether attendance has affected a student’s ability to demonstrate the unit learning outcomes or requiring additional assessment where appropriate.

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 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 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. 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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

Streamlined the assessment items, lectures, and tutorials. Added user testing fair as an assessable deliverable.

Additional information

Additional costs

There might be additional costs in the course depending on the design project.

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

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

DECO4200: Advanced Interactive Product Design Studio

Semester 2, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links