DESIGN 211 Aotearoa New Zealand Narratives - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

An introduction to cultural narratives of Aotearoa New Zealand, and the role that contemporary design is playing as a participatory method for community-led change, both from bottom-up and institutional perspectives. Students will explore design as a practice for facilitating self-determination, and learn ways to enable genuine, respectful partnerships in order to tackle complex local and global challenges.

Course Overview

This course is an introduction to the cultural narratives of Aotearoa New Zealand, and the role that contemporary design, such as the design and production of 360-degree cinematic video experiences (VR), can play as inclusive, decolonising methods for community-led change.

In recent years, government and social institutions have critically explored design as a promising practice for facilitating self-determination. Design opens a space for new ways of thinking to be expressed, enabling genuine connections that foster the necessary collaboration to deal with complex challenges. As an example, “Māori Co-design” explores how korero tuku iho (traditional Māori knowledge) and co-design can be used together to address challenges that affect Māori communities.

Students will learn to design from a culturally respectful perspective, developing a deeper understanding of the historical relationship between Tāngata Tīriti and Tāngata Whenua, including Mana Whenua, celebrating what is unique about the people and the place in which this university is embedded. The topics discussed will help students build a common understanding of Māori heritage, worldview, whakapapa (interconnectedness), values, stories, and current challenges, alongside narratives and design approaches from Oceanic peoples and those from further afield so we can explore and experience authentic intercultural practices.

Students will also learn collaborative design methods as a respectful approach when working with local communities. This paper emphasises the importance of local knowledge and positioning whānau and/or community groups at the centre of projects. Students will learn to develop empathetic listening, collaboration, understanding power dynamics, and creating space for others; the ability to test and fail fast in order to improve and develop solutions. Moreover, students will be encouraged to practice tino rangatiratanga (self-determination), explore their uniqueness, and develop their own decolonising design methods, as a result of these inspiring narratives.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: DESIGN 100, 101

Learning Outcomes

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

Demonstrate an understanding of familiarity with the historical, cultural, economic, and political contexts around various stories of New Zealand. (Capability 6.3)
Develop a traditional and/or digital skill-set, including the production of 360-degree cinematic VR to articulate both a critical (collectively relevant) and personal perspective on New Zealand’s narratives. (Capability 2.1, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
Develop familiarity with presenting your work and critiquing the work of others in a studio pedagogical context. (Capability 3.2, 5.5, 6.1 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Values visualisation	20%	Individual Coursework
Discussion	30%	Individual Coursework
Final Project & presentation	50%	Group & Individual Coursework
3 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3
Values visualisation
Discussion
Final Project & 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 counsellor. 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, and feedback sessions.

New Zealand Narratives is structured into 3 stages, each assessed through individual and group work.

The first stage will present an introduction to the main themes and concepts related to the history of Aotearoa, mātauranga Mãori, and the Māori worldview. Students will explore and reflect on their own value systems and how this relates to their individual actions and to their community, they will learn to visually represent these systems using culturally adequate aesthetics.

In the second and third stages, students will go through a collaborative, whānau-centred design process. Within this process, students will approach a community challenge to understand their role as facilitators of self-determined change. In groups, they will explore these methods by shifting power dynamics in the studio sessions, being the students the ones to facilitate a session around a selected topic. For the last assignment, students will refine and deliver a prototype of their project.

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 a 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 3 hours of studio contact time, a 1-hour workshop, 1hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 7.5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including studios to complete components of the course. Lectures and other learning activities (including tutorials) will be available as recordings for remote students. The course will include live online events including group discussions and tutorials. Attendance on campus is required for all the assignment presentations.

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, 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 will bring content from readings into our online discussion.

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 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 3:	Solution Seeking
Capability 5:	Independence and Integrity
Capability 6:	Social and Environmental Responsibilities

DESIGN 211 : Aotearoa New Zealand Narratives

Creative Arts and Industries

2023 Semester One (1233) (15 POINTS)