A unit in the course:

This unit will explore the nature of design practices and outcomes in a world of diminishing natural capital. It will provide students with the skills and knowledge to develop innovative sustainable design strategies and explore the development of sustainable outcomes that seek to analyse, determine and educate the end user.

This studio challenges designers to consider the nature of design practices and outcomes in a world of diminishing natural capital, that is, the earth's natural resources and the ecological systems that support life. It offers the skills and knowledge to develop innovative sustainable design strategies. These may include projects which defer immediately to sustainable outcomes and strategies, or projects which seek to analyse, determine and ultimately educate the end user.

This studio attempts to position projects which seek to apply a broader understanding to all design disciplines and asks participants to question where sustainability fits within the wider community of design.

This unit aims to introduce students to the relationship between new technologies and design and the potential for its impact on “design” project outcomes. In this unit, students will:
• Engage in an investigative and research-based studio project
• Develop and extend individual projects which engage directly with the themes articulated for this design studio
• Explore the relationship between a broader vision of research and design practice
• Articulate the studio project outcomes and themes through a well-developed and well-structured design solution.

Teaching is conducted in a student-centred studio environment, through lectures, group discussions, site visits, demonstrations and critiques. Students present their work to the group at the end of each project.

100% project work. Project briefs clearly define submission requirements and due dates but participants are responsible for actively participating in this process to develop a clear understanding of assessment requirements. Formative feedback is given throughout the semester to allow participants to develop their work for final submission. Assessment occurs at the end of the semester.

This unit is broadly based on the themes of:
• Social sustainability
• Ethos
• Community
• Language
• Play
• New materials and technology
• Design authorship and responsibility
• Effective communication
• Design and sustainability
• Interface Design.

Students may be given a reading list and ongoing readings for discussion over the course of the semester. These readings will constantly change to reflect the topics discussed in the Design Research Studio.