Swinburne University of Technology - Melbourne Australia
Future Students - Courses
Course Description:
Less than 20 years old, design anthropology represents the synthesis of academic anthropology with the professional practice of design. It seeks to understand how the processes and artefacts of design help define what it means to be human – how design translates human values into tangible experiences. The program is to be offered at Swinburne University of Technology, Prahran campus, with some units offered online through Open Universities Australia and some specialisation units offered at the Hawthorn campus. (This program is not available to on-shore international students.)
Aims & Objectives:
The purpose of the Graduate Diploma of Design (Design Anthropology) program is threefold: (1) to provide design and social science undergraduate students direct pathways into the highly professionalised design anthropology field at the master level, which is the minimal degree requirement for placement in the field; (2) to offer current untrained or under-trained ‘design anthropologist’ and ‘anthrodesigner’ professionals (e.g. user experience designers and researchers, branding and consumer insights specialists, social and product innovation consultants) a degree that systematically credentials the design and anthropological theory and skills necessary for recognition and advancement in those professions; (3) to lay the intellectual and practical foundation for research pathways into the Swinburne Faculty of Design’s PhD program as related to the activities of CIKADA, the Faculty of Design’s Indigenous Knowledge and Design Anthropology research group.
Course Structure:
12 months full-time or part-time equivalent.* 100 credit points, normally undertaken full-time studying 50 credit points per semester. A full-time weekly workload includes 12 hours of contact time and expects a minimum of another 24 hours study time. The Graduate Diploma program consists of two online compulsory units (one unit of 12.5 credit points in Research Methods and one of 25 credit points in Design Studio) of core study; followed by three online discipline units (three times 12.5 credit points) of Design Anthropology. Students also select a specialisation of two online units (two times 12.5 credit points) to complete their Graduate Diploma. Online units may also be offered through Open University Australia. The online Graduate Diploma allows domestic and offshore international students to take advantage of the online offerings and flexible study at their own pace. Graduate Diploma students, full-time or part-time*, study completely online. International students will be encouraged to aim for the master degree. *International students are required to study full-time and on campus and cannot undertake the other study modes
Units of Study:
Graduate Diploma of Design (Design Anthropology) All units are undertaken online. All units are 12.5 credit points unless otherwise noted. These units may also be offered through Open Universities Australia. Semester 1 HDG530 Research Methods for Design HDG531 Fundamental Design Studio HDA650 Introduction to Design Anthropology Semester 2 HDA651 History and Theory in Design Anthropology HDA653 Designing for Cultural Groups: Kin, Tribes and Communities Plus two units from a selected secialisation: Indigenous Knowledge HDIK670 Indigenous Knowledge in Global Contexts HDIK671 Indigenous Approaches of Designing for Cultural Wellness or Cross Cultural Communication Design HDCC670 Introduction to Cross Cultural Brand Identity Strategy HDCC671 Design Strategy for a Global Context or Sustainable Design HDSD670 Principles and Theories of Sustainable Design HDSD672 Building Sustainable Design Practices
Career Opportunities:
Employment may be found in areas such as marketing, user experience designers and researchers, branding and consumer insight specialists, social and product innovation consultants. Further research in this field may also be undertaken.
Professional recognition:
Graduates of university degree courses would have sufficient points to be eligible for associate membership in the Design Institute of Australia on graduation.
Graduate Attributes:
Graduates of the program will demonstrate a balance of vocationally oriented attributes, including: strong industry connections and awareness of the pace of development in the design industry, ensuring their professional capability and preparation;experience of ‘just-in-time’ strategies and interaction with actual clients, ensuring graduates are adaptable and are tested in their ability to manage the process and timeframes of industry practice;the capacity for high levels of innovation in the development of creative projects;‘state of the art’ skills for design development, production, presentation and management, as well the capacity to integrate design into diverse organisational cultures;an awareness of the changing nature of design consultancies and services and the capacity to embrace and manage change;the scope to become future leaders in design industries and businesses internationally, or in directing design activity in government or other social and cultural organisations.
Entry Requirements:
Successful completion of a bachelor degree program with the equivalent of an Australian system 60% grade average (or better) from a university recognised for social science or design education is required. Candidates with other tertiary qualifications and relevant industry experience will also be considered. An entrance essay and design/design strategy portfolio is required for all applicants to the program. A design strategy portfolio consists of a series of 1-2 page project case studies that demonstrate the applicant’s holistic approach to formulating and solving social challenges through anthropological and design thinking. The normal requirement for admission to the Master of Design (Design Anthropology) program and the Graduate Diploma of Design (Design Anthropology) program is a bachelor degree with the equivalent of an Australian system 60% grade average (or better) in a design, social science (especially anthropology), humanities, information science or human-computer interaction discipline.The Master of Design (Design Anthropology) and the Graduate Diploma of Design (Design Anthroplogy) also provide an entry point for applicants who do not hold a degree but have at least eight years relevant industry experience demonstrating potential to undertake work at this level.
Recognition of Prior Learning:
This will be handled on an individual basis with students being granted exemptions were appropriate.
Course Fees:
The total tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected by the student. Fees are reviewed each year.For information about Swinburne's fees visit: www.swinburne.edu.au/fees
Application Procedure:
Application forms can be downloaded from the website at: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/postgrad/apply/
Further information:
Web: Enquire online Tel: 1300 ASK SWIN (1300 275 794) Email: postgrad@swinburne.edu.au Website: www.swinburne.edu.au/design
