DESC9117: Semester 2, 2025

Units DESC9117 Semester 2 2025 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

DESC9117: Sound Design for New Media

Semester 2, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit aims to introduce essential concepts in sound design for a range of applications in emerging media technologies such as: interactive systems, video games, immersive video and virtual reality. A grounding will be provided in the theory and criticism of sound design in order to develop an understanding of the potentialities of utilizing audio in synergy with accompanying media. The sound designer's role in the process of creation of meaning will be examined in cultural as well as technical contexts, with the aim of developing and extending production practices towards an articulate and coherent aesthetic. The unit will also look at current computer-based tools and techniques available to the sound designer, as well as examine the various underlying strategies, processes, and sound design philosophies. Upon completion of this unit students will be expected to: understand the opportunities and challenges of different media and their essential concepts and terminology. Students will also acquaint themselves with the history, theory and criticism of sound design. Students will develop technical and conceptual skills in audio production including: building and programming physical computing audio systems, general miking techniques, producing sound effects, and mixing sound for different media, video game and interactive audio programming and immersive audio production.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Design Lab
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Samuel Gillespie, samuel.gillespie@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Creative work	Immersive Media Prototype A prototype sound design for a game.	40%	Formal exam period Due date: 18 Nov 2025 at 23:59	Design report, media delivery, demo	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Practical skill	Foley Sound Design An exercise to explore Foley techniques for Sound Design.	15%	Week 04 Due date: 29 Aug 2025 at 23:59	Four alternate sound designs	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Creative work	Soundscape Sound Design A study in creating immersive soundscapes.	20%	Week 07 Due date: 19 Sep 2025 at 23:59	2min soundscape and 1-page rationale	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Creative work	Interactive Sonification A study in sonification of interactive systems.	25%	Week 09 Due date: 10 Oct 2025 at 23:59	5-10 sounds, 1-page rationale	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Please see the unit’s assesment brief found on canvas.

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 reasonable evidence to support their absence, may be offered the opportunity to sit an alternative assessment to pass this unit at the discretion of the unit coordinator.

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 a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

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.

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:

See faculty policy for details.

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	Designing with Sound	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 02	Principles and Patterns of Sound Design	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 03	Intentional Product Sounds	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 04	Sound Design Process	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 05	Sonification and Sound Design	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 06	Sound Design for Immersive Environments	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 07	Sound Design and Autonomous Agents	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 08	Sound Design for Interactive Systems	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 09	Game Theory and Video Game Audio History	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 10	Audio Production for Video Games	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 11	Sound Design and Implementation for Video Games	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 12	Music Integration and Development	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 13	Generative Sound Design	Seminar (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School: University of Sydney School of Architecture Design and Planning Faculty Resolutions 2022

The above policy outlines the attendance 90% requirement which will be applied in this unit. Failure to meet this requirement may result in an Absent Fail grade for the unit unless an agreement has been made with the unit of study coordinator.

Passing this unit of study is contingent on attempting all assignments. Failure to engage with all assessments will result in an Absent Fail grade (at the discretion of the unit of study coordinator). Please note, that this does not mean you have to pass all assessments, as per a hurdle task, but you must engage with each assessment by submitting or presenting (as appropriate) for each task as laid out in the unit of study outline.

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. Design, develop and implement sound-based interactions for both products and immersive media.
LO2. Understand the requirements and limitations of sound-based designs and develop knowledge of how sound interacts with other interactive aspects of a design.
LO3. Apply interaction design theories and concepts to assess, analyse and interrogate sound-based content in both products and immersive media.

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 uses unit of study surveys for improvements each year. Following last year's feedback, the timing and focus of assessments has been updated to help balance and manage the workload over the semester.

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.

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

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links