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Unit of study_

DESN3000: Co-Design and Participatory Approaches

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit is an introduction to human-centred co-design and participatory methods, specifically in the context of future challenges of the type you will face in various domains of product, service, or technology design. You will learn co-design principles and practices through evaluating current cases, processes and systems. Through the analysis of real-world case studies, you will apply co-design and participatory methods to address the complex issues facing society. The unit will also introduce you to how design-led strategies can support human experiences or be used to improve technologies and processes. You will develop your skills by using design exercises to demonstrate the strategic and practical applications of such methods and approaches.

Unit details and rules

Unit code DESN3000
Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Naseem Ahmadpour, naseem.ahmadpour@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment A1: Pop-up engagement reflective report
Written report
25% Week 05
Due date: 24 Mar 2023 at 23:59
up to 5 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Presentation group assignment A2.2: Proposal presentation
Poster and presentation in class, group
10% Week 10
Due date: 04 May 2023 at 10:00
5 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment A2.1: Workshop exploration and design proposal
Written report, group work
40% Week 10
Due date: 05 May 2023 at 23:59
Up to 10 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment A3: Ethical assessment
written report
25% Week 13
Due date: 26 May 2023 at 23:59
Up to 5 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

A1: Pop-up engagement reflective report (25%), individual

As a group, your first task is to run a pop-up engagement to engage your stakeholders (students/staff/visitors) at the University of Sydney. The aim is to see what these stakeholder groups value and desire. What you learn in pop-up engagements should help you run stakeholder workshops in the next assignment.

A2.1: Workshop exploration and design proposal (40%), group work

Based on the given design brief, you will conduct your co-design workshops as part of your exploration phase. Here the main task is to design workshops, analyze the collected data and develop a design concept together with stakeholders. You then submit a design proposal as a group, to capture the process and outcomes of the exploration. You will use your findings and insights from your pop-up engagement to set a direction for the exploration. This is a group assignment.

A2.2: Proposal presentation (10%) Group work

You will demonstrate how to persuasively present your group co-design workshops and final concept, through the application of visual communication techniques in a poster.

A3: Ethical assessment (25%) Individual work

Reflect on ethical considerations for your design by performing an ethical assessment. Consider these questions: What are the possible negative consequences on different levels of individual, community and society? And how can we mitigate negative ethical consequences through design?

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

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

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:

Penalties for late submissions: 5% of the awardable mark per day for submitted work, 10% of the awardable mark per day for in-class assessments

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 Masterclass on co-design: Part 1 Seminar (1 hr) LO1
Workshop Masterclass on co-design: Part 1 Workshop (2 hr) LO1
Week 02 Masterclass on co-design: Part 2 Seminar (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Workshop Masterclass on co-design: Part 2 Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 03 Masterclass on co-design: Part 2 Seminar (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Workshop Masterclass on engagement: Part 1 Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO6
Week 04 Masterclass on engagement: Part 2 Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6
Workshop Masterclass on engagement: Part 2 , Feedback on A1 Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 05 Masterclass on exploration: Part 1 Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Workshop Masterclass on exploration: Part 1 Workshop (2 hr) LO6
Week 06 Masterclass on exploration: Part 2 Seminar (1 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6
Workshop Masterclass on exploration: Part 2 Workshop (2 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 07 Masterclass on data analysis: Part 1 Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6
Workshop Masterclass on data analysis: Part 1 Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Masterclass on data analysis: Part 2 Seminar (1 hr) LO4 LO5
Workshop Masterclass on data analysis: Part 2 Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 09 Masterclass on Ethics: Part 1 Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6
workshop Masterclass on Ethics: Part 1 Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Masterclass on Ethics: Part 2 Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Workshop Masterclass on Ethics: Part 2 Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Masterclass on co-evaluation: Part 1 Seminar (1 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6
Workshop Masterclass on co-evaluation: Part 1 Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Masterclass on co-evaluation: Part 2 Seminar (1 hr) LO3
Workshop Masterclass on co-evaluation: Part 2 , Feedback session Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Final presentations Workshop (1 hr) LO6
Final presentations Workshop (2 hr) LO6

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. demonstrate expertise in assessing the requirements of a design problem
  • LO2. understand methods for co-discovery and co-creation of design concepts in the different stages of a co-design project
  • LO3. understand how to co-create solutions that respond to stakeholder assets, values and needs
  • LO4. demonstrate proficiency in prototyping designs that address complex problems through innovative ideas
  • LO5. evaluate the performance and experience of a design solution
  • LO6. 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.

Students wanted more structure which is now implemented by structuring the class in 6 masterclasses.

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.