Outline

Overview

The aim of the studio is to explore new interaction possibilities offered by emerging digital technologies through a design-led approach. Each studio is based around one or more design projects, which address a specialised area of study, supported by lectures and workshops to introduce the relevant theory, knowledge and design precedents. The specialised areas of study will vary from semester to semester, ranging for example from small-scale wearable devices to large-scale environments, and will reflect contemporary issues in interaction, art, design, culture and technology. The studio aims to develop the student's conceptual design abilities together with their technical skills, within the framework of a highly creative, research-based and human-centred design process. Students will be expected to apply interaction design methodologies to their project work and follow a design-oriented approach to the development of hardware and software, through experimentation and iterative prototyping.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	IDEA9102
Academic unit	Design Lab
Credit points	12
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	IDEA9106
Corequisites ?	IDEA9101
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Luke Hespanhol, luke.hespanhol@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Luke Hespanhol, luke.hespanhol@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Marius Hoggenmueller, marius.hoggenmueller@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Louis Chew, louis.chew@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Abhiruchi Chhikara, abhiruchi.chhikara@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Studio experience progress report Online quizzes	15%	Multiple weeks	400 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Grounding research and initial concepts Written assessment	20%	Week 07	5 min (max) video presentation
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Urban prototyping, documentation, and evaluation Practical assessment and presentation	40%	Week 14 (STUVAC)	20-32 slides
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Reflective studio report Written assessment	25%	Week 14 (STUVAC)	1000-1500 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Grounding research and initial concepts: A mix of background, user, and first-person research will be conducted to explore the
problem outlined in the design brief. An initial concept will be generated through ideation processes and communicated through storyboards and/or interaction scenarios.
Urban prototyping, documentation and evaluation: Finalise your working prototype(s) and the design documentation of your project. This includes a short video demonstrating the concept and user experience. It should clearly communicate the problem, the concept, the setting, the user behaviour, the interaction, and the benefits of your placemaking design solution for the chosen precinct.
Reflective studio report: Write a short essay reflecting on your studio practice, discussing the design practice, any challenges faced, insights, and lessons learned.
Studio experience progress report: This assignment consists of a simple, quick, yet reflective Canvas quiz reporting on your weekly studio experience.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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 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.

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.

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	1. Welcome to unit, introduction to design brief; 2. Derivé and sound walk.	Studio (2 hr)
	1. Designing the New City: smart, playful, and creative; 2. Interaction Design In the Wild: Motivations, Challenges and Methods.	Lecture (2 hr)
	Video production/editing	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	1. Media architecture and digital placemaking; 2. Designing meaningful spaces; 3. Spatial Layout and Social Interactions.	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 02	1. Rapid prototyping tips and tricks; 2. Design spaces; 3. Code clinic: recap of basic concepts and techniques.	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	1. Urban media art; 2. Urban UX.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	1. Context, presence and change; 2. Framing experience; 3. Documenting and presenting design work.	Tutorial (4 hr)
Week 04	Research through design and urban prototyping.	Lecture (1 hr)
	Tools for creative coding of interactive public space.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Project work.	Studio (3 hr)
Week 05	Playful cities.	Lecture (1 hr)
	Creative placemaking.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Project work.	Studio (3 hr)
Week 06	1. Guest lecture; 2. Low-resolution information design.	Lecture (2 hr)
	1. Designing ambient urban media.	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Project work.	Studio (3 hr)
Week 08	Effective group work and formation of teams	Tutorial (3 hr)
	Debrief: urban prototyping festival.	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Project work.	Studio (2 hr)
Week 09	User testing and evaluation in public spaces.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	1. User testing planning; 2. Project work.	Studio (5 hr)
Week 10	1. Preparing digital media for a show; 2. Project documentation.	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	1. Creative placemaking evaluation; 2. Evaluation and logistics preparation.	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Exhibition dry-run.	Studio (3 hr)
Week 11	Project work and initial evaluation.	Studio (3 hr)
Week 12	Preparation and logistics for public test and final exhibition.	Studio (3 hr)
Week 12	Project work.	Studio (3 hr)
Week 13	Final exhibition.	Studio (6 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

The School’s requirement of 90% attendance is waived. Participation in this unit is required via online components

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.

Required readings

Toft, T. S. (2014). Situations of presence: reclaiming public space in the urban digital gallery. World Cities, 78.

Pop, S., Toft, T., Calvillo, N., Wright, M., Arrigoni, G., Taker, L., ... & Langnese, S. (2016). What Urban Media Art Can Do - Why, When, Where and How. avedition.

Halskov, K. and Fischel, A. (2019). The Design Space of Media Architecture Displays. Interactions Magazine (November-December 2019), 60-63.

Dalsgaard, P. and Halskov, K. Designing Urban Media Façades: Cases and Challenges. In Proc. CHI 2010, ACM Press (2010).

Hespanhol, L., & Tomitsch, M. (2015). Strategies for Intuitive Interaction in Public Urban Spaces. Interacting with Computers. doi: 10.1093/iwc/iwu051

Fischer, P. T., & Hornecker, E. (2012). Urban HCI: Spatial Aspects in the Design of Shared Encounters for Media Façades. Paper presented at the CHI 2012, Austin, Texas, USA.

Media Architecture Compendium, Digital Placemaking. Hespanhol, L., Haeusler, M., Tomitsch, M., Tscherteu, G. (eds.) 2017. Avedition, Germany

M. Foth, M. Brynskov, & T. Ojala (Eds.), Citizen’s Right to the Digital City – Urban Interfaces, Activism, and Placemaking (pp. 37-54). Singapore: Springer.

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. Select and apply interaction design processes, methods and tools to help plan and carry out a research-led design project
LO2. Generate and evaluate novel and interesting interaction design concepts in response to design briefs.
LO3. Identify and apply aesthetic principles to create and refine the aesthetic quality of design solutions.
LO4. Demonstrate technical competency in prototyping for novel and creative interactive applications and interactive experiences.
LO5. Communicate persuasively through diverse forms of media the value of design proposals and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
LO6. Collaborate effectively as a team to bring together requisite skills to plan, implement and complete design projects.
LO7. Work independently, with an ability to make independent judgements, reflect, self-evaluate and self-improve, and incorporate the feedback of others.

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.

Implementation of assessed weekly status reports.

Additional information

Additional costs

Students are expected to purchase materials, including electronic components, for use in prototyping their design concepts for the studio assessment. Costs may be in the range $150-$400.

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

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

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

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

IDEA9102: IDEA Studio 1

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

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

Media

Student links

About us

Connect