Postgraduate Course: Design Informatics Project (DESI11026)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course supports students in exploring and developing emerging technologies through creative design projects and reflective practice. It involves student-led critical engagement with current technological themes, experimentation, and development of their own self-directed understanding of the design approaches. |
| Course description |
This student-led course supports students in exploring critical and reflective approaches of emerging technologies, such as AI, in the development of Design Informatics projects.
Students will engage with a range of design methods and tools in applied technologies, learning to document their processes and reflect on the outcomes.
Throughout the course, students will participate in Lectures, Workshops and Group Tutorials.
Lectures and workshops: Sessions introducing a variety of approaches and perspectives within design, offering insights and foundational knowledge to inspire and guide students in developing their projects.
Group Tutorials: Regular meetings to provide tailored guidance and support, ensuring student projects align with learning outcomes.
The course will:
1. Support students in planning, developing, and articulating design projects to a high critical standard.
2. Enable students to build confidence in navigating emerging methods and tools within design and applying their learning to their self-directed practice.
3. Develop students' ability to reflect on their learning and creative processes through documentation of their work.
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 9,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 13,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
This course has 3 components of assessments:
1. Initial presentation video: Students will create a short 3-5min video outlining their research, theoretical grounding and project intentions, including the chosen AI tools or areas of research. This component of assessment will be submitted in weeks 6-7 of the semester and counts as 30% towards the final grade. It will be assessed against Learning Outcomes 1 and 2
2. Final Project Report: A comprehensive report (1,500-2,000 words) detailing the project's development, challenges and solutions with references. The report should include visuals as a central part of the submission. This component of assessment will be submitted in weeks 11-12 of the semester and counts as 50% towards the final grade. It will be assessed against Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4.
3. AI statement: A separate written report (500-1000 words) where the student critically reflects on their use of AI tools throughout the project development, with a separate appendix listing AI tools used, prompts and results as evidence. This component of assessment will be submitted in weeks 11-12 of the semester and counts as 20% towards the final grade. It will be assessed against Learning Outcome 3 & 4. |
| Feedback |
Formative Feedback
Formative feedback will be provided verbally by the course organiser, tutors and peers during weekly seminars and tutorials. This feedback will guide students in developing the research and concept development skills required for summative component 1, and additional creative, critical and reflective capacities required for summative component 2 and 3.
Summative Feedback
Summative feedback will be provided in writing by the course organiser and tutors following each submission. Summative feedback following submission of component 1 in week 6/7 will help students identify the theoretical framing and practical challenges needed to further develop components 2 and 3.
Summative feedback will be provided according to University regulations. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an ability to critically assess new technologies, methods and integrate them into design projects.
- Develop and articulate a theoretical framework that supports the critical integration of new technologies in design projects.
- Create a design project that effectively documents the use of AI at different stages.
- Reflect on the process and impact of AI in design through a final group report.
|
Reading List
Cottrell, Stella (2023). Critical Thinking Skills: Effective Analysis, Argument and Reflection. Bloomsbury.
Dunne, Anthony and Raby, Fiona. (2013). Speculative Everything: Design, Fiction, and Social Dreaming. MIT Press.
Evans, Katie D., Robbins, Scott A. and Bryson, Joanna J. (2025). Do We Collaborate With What We Design?. Top. Cogn. Sci., 17: 392-411. https://doi.org/10.1111/tops.12682
Fallman, Daniel. (2008). The Interaction Design Research Triangle of Design Practice, Design Studies, and Design Exploration. Design Issues. 24(3): 4-18. https://doi.org/10.1162/desi.2008.24.3.4
Gerlich, Michael. (2025). AI Tools in Society: Impacts on Cognitive Offloading and the Future of Critical Thinking. Societies, 15(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15010006
Gray, Carol and Malins, Julia (2004). Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Routledge. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Critical thinking
Students will develop independent and critical approaches to research and design practice. Through project-based work, they will learn to question assumptions, evaluate evidence, and identify broader themes emerging from their research.
Problem solving
Students will strengthen their ability to address complex design problems by imagining alternative approaches, synthesising information, and translating research insights into design outcomes.
Collaboration
Through group discussions, peer feedback, and collaborative learning activities, students will develop skills in working constructively with others.
Reflection
Students will develop reflective awareness of their methods and tools used in developing design projects. They will improve their capacity for self-reflection and creative approaches to developing student-led projects. They will learn to improve their research process through self-reflection and peer feedback.
Communication
Students will improve verbal and written communication through presenting their projects and reporting critically on the process of developing them. They will also develop their interpersonal communication skills through group discussions.
Data and digital literacy
Students will strengthen their digital literacy through the use of digital tools and technologies within their projects. They will also develop awareness of the ethical and critical dimensions of working with digital systems, including the interpretation of data, the use of emerging technologies, and responsible engagement with digital tools in creative practice. |
| Keywords | Design,Production,Project,Management,Artefact |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Caterina Moruzzi
Tel:
Email: cmoruzzi@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Hollie Gilligan
Tel:
Email: hgilliga@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage