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Unit of study_

DESN9201: Design Innovation Catalyst

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

In this unit students will learn how to engage stakeholders through design interventions: a core component of being a Design Innovation Catalyst. Through a multi-staged approach, students will learn about possible approaches for such design interventions (e.g. workshops and design sprints). Students will explore how to structure a design intervention, and discover some effective methods for delivering and facilitating interventions. Students will build knowledge and skills for visually and verbally communicating content to an audience. In addition, students will develop their ability to identify key methods to facilitate a group's discussion with the objective of sharing knowledge, building concepts and reaching common outcomes. The unit will detail the why, who, when, and how of design interventions. Students will be expected to facilitate a design intervention (such as a workshop) as part of the unit of study.

Unit details and rules

Unit code DESN9201
Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 12
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
IDEA9106 and 18 credit points from (DESN9003 and DESN9100) or (DESN9004 and DESN9200)
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

DESN9001 or DESN9002

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Leigh-Anne Hepburn, leigh-anne.hepburn@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Design Intervention Report
Report that details intervention, design outcome, and reflective process
40% Formal exam period
Due date: 30 May 2023 at 23:59
20 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Design Outcome
Communicate a design outcome based on insights from the intervention.
10% Formal exam period
Due date: 30 May 2023 at 23:59
A0 Poster
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Design intervention plan
Outline your plan and agenda for the design intervention
20% Week 06
Due date: 03 Apr 2023 at 23:59
5 to 10 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Presentation Design intervention facilitation
Evaluate your delivery and facilitation of a live design intervention
30% Week 08
Due date: 18 Apr 2023 at 23:59
Minimum 20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4

Assessment summary

  • Outline a plan and agenda for a design intervention (design sprint).
  • Deliver the design intervention.
  • Generate and communicate a design outcome.
  • Prepare a report that summarises the intervention, design outcome, and refects upon your personal practice.

Assessment criteria

 

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.

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:

Submitted assessments received late attract a penalty of 5% of the maximum mark possible per day late.

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 Introduction to Design Innovation Catalysts Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Studio Practice Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 02 Contexts and Challenges: the 'who' and 'where' of design interventions Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Studio Practice Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 03 Participation and Engagement: the 'when' and 'what' of a design intervention Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Studio Practice Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 04 Prototyping Interventions Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Studio Practice Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 05 Iteration and Impact: The 'what next' of design interventions Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Studio Practice Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 06 Planning a Workshop Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Studio Practice Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Workshop Planning Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Studio Practice Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Designing with Data Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4
Studio Practice Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Communicating change Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Studio Practice Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 10 Design Intensive Seminar (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Design Intensive Seminar (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Design Intensive Seminar (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Final Presentations Presentation (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

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 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 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. Understand the value and purpose of design interventions
  • LO2. Understand how to engage stakeholders through design interventions
  • LO3. Ability to plan an effective design intervention as a catalyst to collaboration and innovation
  • LO4. Ability to facilitate group collaborations using design methods & tools

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.

Updated to reflect USS feedback.

Disclaimer

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