https://courseoutline.auckland.ac.nz/dco/course/DESIGN/241/1235

DESIGN 241 : Designing Mixed Realities

Creative Arts and Industries

2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Introduces an overview of new materials, products and processes connecting virtual and physical worlds. Students will explore these alternative realities as catalysts for positive impact. Students will experiment with technologies to design projects that augment human experiences in hybrid environments.

Course Overview

A Mixed Reality (MR) project creates a unique experience that blurs the edges between our everyday lives and virtual worlds and creates novel intersections between the physical and the digital, the real, and the fictional. Some MR experiences simply immerse people in imaginary environments while others help train participants to complete complex physical challenges. Others promote playful engagement in museum spaces, reveal hidden histories in city streets, entertain through dynamic gaming, promote a brand, and some remind us about important social and political causes.
MR currently refers to a range of technologies/experiences such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Location-based Experiences, Alternate-Reality Gaming, and more that are expected to emerge as the technologies advance and the development tools become more accessible to designers and technicians. Contemporary Designers will increasingly need to be familiar with MR practices as technologies rapidly advance and become readily available on mobile phones, tablets, public displays, specialised eyewear, and increasingly connected to personal, shared, and commercial places and things.
This course will introduce students to the different technologies used to design, develop, and experience Mixed Realities. Students will experiment with several techniques to design, prototype, and evaluate Mixed Reality projects in a variety of contexts.

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. Demonstrate a critical understanding of topics through the identification and evaluation of related best practice (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.2)
  2. Demonstrate technical competency with a range of tools and techniques required for the design and production of mixed reality experiences (Capability 1.2, 2.3, 3.3, 4.3 and 5.5)
  3. Demonstrate evidence of engagement with cultural, political, global, historical and ecological contexts and content. (Capability 1.3, 2.4, 3.3 and 6.1)
  4. Develop familiarity with presenting work and critiquing the work of others in a studio pedagogical context. (Capability 1.1, 4.2 and 5.3)
  5. Demonstrate the ability to pitch or succinctly and compellingly present a project. (Capability 4.1 and 5.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Project Brief 10% Group & Individual Coursework
Project development and iteration 30% Group & Individual Coursework
Prototype 40% Group & Individual Coursework
Presentation & Reflection 20% Group & Individual Coursework
4 types 100%
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Project Brief
Project development and iteration
Prototype
Presentation & Reflection
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 Studio environment.
Studio sessions will be led by a team of design, research, and technical experts who will provide presentations and lead workshop activities on design methods, processes, and techniques.
Each week there will be a 3-hour design studio scheduled to include activities such as project workshops, project demonstrations, and feedback sessions. 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.
Studio time will be spent each week in various combinations of the following :
  • Presentations: by academic and industry experts as well as student presentations of work in progress (WIP)
  • Demonstrations: examples of completed projects and technical experiments. Students will have access to various technologies to experience and learn from existing projects
  • Discussions: presenters and students will discuss weekly topics and apply principles and analysis frameworks that will improve practice and support project progress
  • Workshops: presenters will run technical workshops to introduce students to the hardware and software relating to the design and development of MR projects. These workshops will include introductions to tools and techniques for both content (visual, audio) and systems (engines, programming, testing) prototyping.
Later in the semester, there will be studio sessions dedicated to student project progress.
  • Project Support: working on the skills and methods required to complete various stages of individual and group assignment submissions with the support of teaching and technical staff.
  • Self-guided activities: some studio sessions will be scheduled for students to have the time and access to equipment and technical support for various project WIP activities and project teamwork.

Workload Expectations

This is a 15-credit course and you can expect each week and over 12 weeks to dedicate to at least 3 hours of lectures, a 1-hour workshop, 1 hour of reading and thinking about the content, and 7.5 hours per week working on assignments.

Please note that evidence of student participation may be expected on a variety of online platforms and in environments beyond the Studio and Lab spaces. Such as Canvas, Zoom, and others. 

Students must regularly check on the Canvas site for specific instructions and updates.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs, tutorials, or studios to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars  may be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including  tutorials.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable delivery.

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

Software:
Students will be informed of any recommended software on the course Canvas website.

Online Folio:
Students will maintain an online folio (blog) documenting studio progress.

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.

based on the feedback from the last iteration of the course, some changes have been made to the assessment tasks.

Other Information

Students will be contacted via their student email addresses. You are welcome to redirect these to a private email, but it is the responsibility of students to check these messages. Please note all communications from Canvas are automatically sent to student's university emails.

Students must check Canvas regularly for updated information.

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.

Published on 02/11/2022 01:56 p.m.