THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Design

Undergraduate Course: Design and Society (DESI08140)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course will introduce students to design practices that self-consciously stand outside the mainstream of designing commodities for mass production and consumption. Through a series of themed lectures students will be expected to develop an understanding of a range of social, cultural and environmental issues and explore the ways in which designers have responded to these challenges, and the strategies they have adopted. The course will support students to think about design and visual culture in a critically engaged way and where relevant to encourage students to approach their own design practices in a reflexive manner.
Course description This course will introduce students to design practices that self-consciously stand outside the mainstream of designing commodities for mass production and consumption and which instead seek to employ socially responsible practices. Through a series of themed lectures encompassing (but not limited to) such topics as, cultural diversity, disability, gender politics and sustainability, students will be asked to develop an understanding of a range of social, cultural and environmental issues and to explore the ways in which designers have responded to these challenges, and the strategies they have adopted. Running through this, particular attention will be paid to the relationship between designed objects and their users, both in the design process and through consumption and use. The course will encourage students to develop their own research interests arising from these themes and will enable them to think about design and visual culture in a critically engaged way. Where relevant it will also support them to approach their own design practices in a reflexive and critically informed manner. The course is delivered through weekly lectures and seminars. Each week students will be required to undertake research activities and prepare work, as part of their directed learning hours, for presentation or discussion in seminar and in preparation for the final submission.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements This course is open to ALL STUDENTS and enrolments are managed on a first come first served basis until the course is full. The course will be open to enrolments from Wednesday 11th September at 11.00 am. Please sign up for the course through your own School (they will advise if this is done via your PT, SSO or Teaching Office). We do not currently keep a waiting list.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  82
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 8, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8, Fieldwork Hours 2, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 176 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) There is one summative assessment task which is due in week 11. The summative assessment takes the form of a 2500-word essay, which will be graded against all three Learning Outcomes. Each learning outcome is weighted equally and the summative assessment counts towards 100% of the course mark.

There is one formative assessment point which is designed to prepare students for the final summative essay. This will take the form of a group presentation accompanied by an individually authored supporting statement of 500-words plus bibliography.
Feedback Students will receive written feedback and grades on their formative and summative submissions via the course Learn site. This will be within 15 working days of submission. Note that formative grades do not count towards the final course mark and summative grades remain indicative until approved by the relevant exam board. Written feedback will provide guidance on areas of strength and improvement in relation to the Learning Outcomes.

Verbal formative feedback will be provided on a weekly basis in relation to the ongoing seminar and workshop exercises.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Use scholarly sources alongside complimentary research strategies to investigate a topic within the field of design and society
  2. Demonstrate a contextual knowledge and understanding of social design through a critical analysis of the research topic
  3. Use a range of visual strategies to support the communication of complex arguments and analysis of the research topic
Reading List
Fry, T. (2009) Design Futuring. Oxford: Berg
Fuad-Luke, A. (2013) Design Activism: Beautiful Strangeness for a Sustainable World. Routledge
Resnick, E. (2016) Developing Citizen Designers. London: Bloomsbury
Tauke, B., Smith, K & Davis, C. eds (2016) Diversity and Design. London: Routledge
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills To be able to identify processes and strategies for learning
To be able to identify, define and analyse problems and identify or create processes to solve them
To be able to search for, evaluate and use information to develop their knowledge and understanding
To make effective use of oral, written and visual means to critique, negotiate, create and communicate understanding.
Keywordsdesign,theory,cultural,social,contemporary,critical
Contacts
Course organiserMs Emma Gieben-Gamal
Tel: (0131 6)51 5721
Email: e.gieben-gamal@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Georgia Dodsworth
Tel: (0131 6)51 5712
Email: georgia.dodsworth@ed.ac.uk
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