Introductory description

In this introductory module we explore the diverse theories and practices of designing, the designed world, the impact of design on people, and the challenges and ambitions that motivate designing. Students will examine the contextual backdrop to the formation of design as discourse, practice and profession, question the globalization of design, the similarities and differences between different forms of designing, design professions, and everyday designing. Students will develop critical and creative capabilities for responding to the designed world.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This module is structured as partially chronological and partially thematic, providing students with a broad sense of how design has been shaped by global philosophies and events, but also, in turn, how design has played an important role in bringing about change. Examples of themes are war and revolution, or design in relation to heritage and identity. Ultimately the curriculum is organised in such a way so to investigate modernism, postmodernism and post-postmodernism through design, uncovering the relationships between design and colonialism and post-colonialism, a broad theme of power and inequality that underlies the entire module contents.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• To develop an understanding of definitions, principles, theories and practices of design and designing.
• To establish effective methods of research using a diverse range of methodologies.
• To describe and critically evaluate designs-as-implemented, as-evolved, and as-experienced, from the perspectives of diverse stakeholders.
• Draw upon knowledge, theories and practices from other disciplines (including creative) with which the students have familiarity, to contextualise and deepen descriptions and critical evaluations of designs.
• To develop an understanding of ethical considerations when researching.

Indicative reading list

Bonsiepe, Gui, et al. Flow of Forms / Forms of Flow: Design Histories between Africa and Europe. Vol. 37, Transcript Verlag, 2018.
Bottazzi, Roberto. Digital Architecture beyond Computers: Fragments of a Cultural History of Computational Design. Bloomsbury Visual Arts, 2018.
Bürdek, Bernhard E. Design: History, Theory and Practice of Product Design. Birkhäuser, 2015.
Conway, Hazel. Design History: a Students' Handbook. Allen & Unwin, 1987, https://go.exlibris.link/Yw1h9sCh, Accessed 4 Jan. 2023.
Dilnot, Clive. “Some Futures for Design History?” Journal of Design History, vol. 22, no. 4, 2009, pp. 377–394., https://doi.org/10.1093/jdh/epp048. Accessed 4 Jan. 2023.
Manzini, Ezio. Design, When Everybody Designs: an Introduction to Design for Social Innovation. The MIT Press, 2015.
Persson, Hans, et al. “Universal Design, Inclusive Design, Accessible Design, Design for All: Different Concepts—One Goal? On the Concept of Accessibility—Historical, Methodological and Philosophical Aspects.” Universal Access in the Information Society, vol. 14, no. 4, 2015, pp. 505–526., https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-014-0358-z. Accessed 4 Jan. 2023.
Walker, John A., and Judy Attfield. Design History and the History of Design. Pluto, 1989.
Walker, Stuart. Design Roots: Culturally Significant Designs, Products and Practices. Bloomsbury Academic, an Imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2018.
Williams, Wayne A., et al. “A Design History of Design: Complexity, Criticality, and Cultural Competence.” Racar, vol. 40, no. 2, 2015, pp. 15–21., https://doi.org/10.7202/1035392ar. Accessed 4 Jan. 2023.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

Foundational academic and design research skills.

Interdisciplinary

Design impacts on every aspect of our lives and is therefore transdisiciplinary in nature. Approaches to design call on anthropology, art history, sociology, psychology, design practice and literary studies amongst others.

International

Design will be examined from across the world and designers will be featured who are representative of a range of design practices and international contexts.

Subject specific skills

Accessing, evaluating, synthesising and applying knowledge about specific design challenges.
Communicating design studies in a range of formats, synchronously and asynchronously, to a wide range of audiences.
Creating and using a personal portfolio of studies, notes and reflections.

Transferable skills

Participating in group discussions, design activities, reflections.
Learning to analyse visual and material subject through a range of methods.
Applying critical thinking.