DESIGN 201 Creative Communities - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Introduces how the digital revolution has empowered people to organise themselves, collaborate and co-operate in non-hierarchical, creative ways. Students will explore the role of designers as catalysts for bottom-up, self-determined and distributed creativity within this scenario. They will learn to design for purpose and positive impact, co-creating open and resilient systems within their local communities.

Course Overview

Creative communities, defined as “groups of people who are able to act outside the dominant thought and behaviour patterns” (Manzini, 2006) have the potential to leverage radical innovation. Over the last 15 years there has been an emergence of digital tools and resources that enable people to organise themselves, collaborate and cooperate in non-hierarchical, creative ways that were previously unimaginable. These innovations start small and local, but gain momentum when they connect to similar initiatives globally, forming resilient, distributed networks of change-makers. Groups of citizens driven by self-determination challenge mainstream market trends, and are successfully designing new ways of living that redefine the value of money, time, relationships, and wellbeing.

Throughout this paper, students will learn methods and tools for collaborative and participatory Design, a fundamental skill for purpose-driven design. Students will analyse cases of people that have successfully organised themselves to solve a problem or create new possibilities within their communities. Students will further identify key trends, common drivers and characteristics, relationships with cultural practices and place, and emerging economic models that enable diffuse creativity. This paper will explore the role designers play in this context, facilitating the social processes where these promising ideas are emerging.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: DESIGN 100, 101

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Demonstrate ability to engage with a locally identified design issue through secondary investigation. (Capability 2.1, 2.4 and 6.1)
Demonstrate ability to plan and facilitate a co-design workshop, from problem framing through deployment using a variety of design methods. (Capability 1.1, 3.2, 3.3, 6.2 and 6.3)
Demonstrate ability to aggregate a diverse array of research sources into a written report and visual presentation. (Capability 2.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 5.5)
Demonstrate ability to compile the results of a project into a visual format and present it to a diverse audience. (Capability 1.1, 4.3 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Case study analysis	30%	Individual Coursework
Development of co-design process and demonstration	40%	Group & Individual Coursework
Visual presentation	30%	Group & Individual Coursework
3 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4
Case study analysis
Development of co-design process and demonstration
Visual presentation

A total grade of 50% or higher is required to pass this course.

Where a student faces unavoidable personal circumstances (e.g. illness or a death in the family) that mean the student is unable to submit a component of coursework, he/she may apply for an extension. 

Applications for extensions require that students complete the Design Programme Extension of Time Application Form https://www.forms.auckland.ac.nz/en/student/creative-arts-and-industries/design-programme-extension-of-time-application-form.html

The request is assessed by the Group Services Administrator and Course coordinator and must be supported by written evidence from a doctor or counselor. The student must apply no later than five days before the due date of the assignment. In case of extreme difficulty closer to the assignment deadline contact your course coordinator directly. 

No extensions will be granted for problems such as accidentally erased computer files, which should always be prevented by keeping backup copies. When an extension is granted, students are expected to submit evidence of work in progress on the original assignment due date to demonstrate what has been completed up to that date

Teaching & Learning Methods

This course will be delivered over 12 weeks in a design studio. Each week there will be a 3-hour lecture+tutorial combination that will vary depending on the specific theme taught. Classes will include guest lecturers, debates, peer reviews, and feedback sessions.

Creative Communities is structured into 3 stages, each assessed through individual and group work.

Students are expected to attend every week as each session has been designed to equip students with the necessary skills to complete all assessment activities to receive a passing grade. A thoughtful and active engagement in group work and feedback sessions will contribute to achieving higher than a passing grade.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 12.5 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 1 hour of lectures, a 2-hour tutorial, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 7.5 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including studios to complete components of the course.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

BYOD - All students enrolled in a Bachelor of Design or Design conjoint degree should come to class with their own laptop. This is so students will have the core learning tools available in and outside of class. It also means students can increase their independence and have better control of a professional device to stimulate creativity and simplify their design process. Working with a personal laptop during the Design degree will prepare students for the realities of working as a designer after graduation. The highly recommended and minimum specifications for a laptop are listed here: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/creative/current-students/courses/design/courses-design-bring-your-own-device.html

An A4 sketch pad and drawing materials are essential tools for designers. It is good practice to be able to quickly record ideas through writing and sketching as well as collecting and pasting items found that are relevant or inspiring.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

We have taken into consideration student feedback from 2021 and 2022 and have made adequate changes. Students will now learn facilitation skills and how to plan for a co-design workshop. We will experiment with different methodologies in class, so that students are better prepared for facilitating their own workshop.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 3:	Solution Seeking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement
Capability 5:	Independence and Integrity
Capability 6:	Social and Environmental Responsibilities

DESIGN 201 : Creative Communities

Creative Arts and Industries

2023 Semester One (1233) (15 POINTS)