DESIGN 231 The Future of Work and Play - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Students will analyse how global techno-social changes such as automation and climate change could impact the way we work and play, now and in the future. Students will critically speculate about possible and probable futures by developing fictional scenarios which test a range of design concepts for transition into preferable futures.

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 concepts and approaches from predictive analytics and critical design to forecast and prototype credible future scenarios for a chosen context. 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 investigative skills, expertise, and thought leadership in areas of personal interest by analysing data and applying contemporary critical design methods to develop future scenarios, derive meaningful insights, and propose interventions. Through this course, students will develop the technical and 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

Learning Outcomes

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

Demonstrate familiarity with predictive analytic and forecasting models, frameworks and research contexts, particularly those that use scenarios and other design-oriented methods. (Capability 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3)
Develop an understanding of the application of design tools, methods and processes to a forecasting or “futuring” context through case study. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 4.1 and 4.2)
Develop a traditional and/or digital skill-set to convincingly model and visualise one or more scenarios. (Capability 1.1, 2.3, 4.1 and 4.2)
Develop familiarity with presenting your work and critiquing the work of others in a studio pedagogical context. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)
Develop ability to pitch or succinctly and compellingly present a project. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Project brief	10%	Group & Individual Coursework
Scenario modelling	30%	Group & Individual Coursework
Final project	40%	Group & Individual Coursework
Pitch	20%	Group & Individual Coursework
4 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4	5
Project brief
Scenario modelling
Final project
Pitch

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 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 12.5 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

Each week you can expect 3 hours of studio-based contact time, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 7.5 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including studios to receive credit for components of the course.

Studio presentations will be available as recordings.

Attendance on campus is not required for assessment submission.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

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 - students enrolled in a Bachelor of Design or Design conjoint degree should come to class with their own laptop and software. 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

Sketch pad and drawing materials: 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.

Online folio: Students will continue to develop their online folios and maintain them throughout their course.

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.

Theoretical content in the first 5 weeks of the course will be reduced to 4 weeks to allow more time for practical work on final project.
Writing requirements for theory content will be reduced by half to reduce cognitive load and encourage more creative modes of expression.
Wording of assignments will be simplified and made more concise.
Studio time will involve more creative interactive activities and lecture/presentation times will be reduced to facilitate this.
Content on worldbuilding and scenario development will be delivered earlier in the course.

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 6:	Social and Environmental Responsibilities

DESIGN 231 : The Future of Work and Play

Creative Arts and Industries

2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)