DESIGN 231 : The Future of Work and Play

Creative Arts and Industries

2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Students will analyse how technological advances such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality impact the way we work and play now and in the future. Using gamification strategies, students will develop fictional scenarios in order to test a range of design concepts intended for future deployment.

Course Overview

Artificial intelligence, gene editing, virtual reality, and brain-computer interfaces – the accelerating evolution of technology has given us the ability to dream bigger than any previous generation of designers. However, this rapid pace of change, coupled with the ecological impacts of industrialisation, brings unprecedented uncertainty about our professional and personal futures.

In The Future of Work and Play, students will combine practical methods from core courses with approaches from speculative and transition design to propose and prototype alternative futures. Students will consider desired utopias – as well as dystopias they fear may materialise if society fails to address current social, political, and ecological challenges.

Students will develop research skills, expertise, and thought leadership in areas of personal interest by applying contemporary, speculative, and transition design methods to develop future scenarios, derive meaningful insights, and propose interventions. Through this course, students will develop the critical skills needed to raise awareness, challenge, provoke action, and lead discussions that reimagine the future of work and play.


Course Requirements

Prerequisite: DESIGN 100, 101

Capabilities Developed in this Course

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
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Design

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically engage in academic research into a techno-social context to effectively argue a personal position, and establish an area of focussed study (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.5)
  2. Plan, design, and execute professional user conversations and precedent research to inform a design process. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 6.2)
  3. Document, curate, and communicate on process, learnings, and solutions in a professional, reflective and engaging manner. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5)
  4. Demonstrate a high degree of understanding and proficiency in the design process. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Contextual Review 30% Group & Individual Coursework
Design Narratives 30% Group & Individual Coursework
Critical Design 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Contextual Review
Design Narratives
Critical Design

Teaching & Learning Methods

This 12-week course will be delivered in a Studio environment. Studio sessions are led by a team of design experts who will provide lectures, curated conversations, and workshops on design methods processes and techniques.

The weekly 3-hour studio will engage students in 4 different modes of learning: Context; Inspiration; Practice; and Reflection.

Context will include lectures on theory and discourse surrounding the broader topic, research method, and introduction of case studies for investigation.

Inspiration will include lectures, curated conversations, guest speakers, design sprints, and challenges that help students understand and embody critical ideas, tools, and principles employed by modern designers.

Practice or practical workshops will consist of one-on-one consultations, individual research, and project prototyping.

Reflection will include regular project pin-ups and group critiques designed to accelerate collective learning and project progress through sharing individual design processes.

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.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of studio-based lectures,  2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. 
The course will include live online events including group tutorials.
Attendance on campus is not required for assessment submission.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

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.

Digital 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.

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.

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.

In the event of 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. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 05/07/2021 09:03 a.m.