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Unit of study_
DESN9001: Designing within Planetary Boundaries
2027 unit information
This unit introduces students to the practice of designing within complex social and environmental systems under conditions of planetary boundaries. It equips students with foundational concepts and practical methods for understanding where and how design can intervene in response to contemporary environmental and social challenges. Rather than treating sustainability as a separate topic, the unit positions ecological limits as a condition that shapes design practice. Students engage with concepts in systems thinking, complexity and behaviour change to understand how design interventions can influence outcomes across systems and contexts. The unit explores environmental and social challenges as interconnected and encourages students to consider multiple perspectives and ways of understanding the world. Students learn approaches to framing problems, mapping systems, identifying behaviours and developing design strategies that are appropriate to local context and natural environments. By the end of the unit, students will be able to identify opportunities for intervention and articulate their role as designers working within complex systems.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning
| Study level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Design Lab |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. understand aims and objectives of design management
- LO2. understand design thinking, design innovation, and design integration methods
- LO3. understand linking of business, technology, and people as way to develop competitive economic, socio-cultural, and environmental advantage
- LO4. understand complexities and methods of utilising design within a business context
- LO5. understand the relation between design management, design leadership, and strategic aspects of organisation
- LO6. understand approaches to design-based research and how they differ from other methodologies within the design and business landscapes.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2027
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
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