DYN902 Design Tools and Tactics

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit empowers students with the tools and tactics required to address contemporary challenges in industry and society. Linking with foundational principles of strategic design, it guides learners towards applied project work by building capabilities in problem-solving and the tactical acumen needed to navigate the dynamic landscape of design-led innovation. It equips students with the criticality required for applying design thinking and creative skills to strategic design practice. Through a blend of theory and hands-on exercises, students will master a diverse range of design tools and tactics, ensuring they can effectively lead, plan, and execute design-driven projects in a real-world context. Conveying essential concepts and practical tactics vital to strategic design innovation, this unit underpins the program's overarching goals of cultivating innovative, design-savvy leaders capable of driving transformation in a rapidly evolving world.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Use a range of design tools and tactics to address complex challenges in real-world scenarios, showcasing adaptability and critical thinking in creative problem-solving processes.
2. Communicate design concepts and strategies through visual representations, fostering clarity and understanding among diverse audiences.
3. Evaluate strengths and limitations of the principles of design thinking and human-centred design, enhancing your ability to make informed decisions in design processes.
4. Collaborate and innovate within interdisciplinary teams using design tools and tactics, managing projects by connecting multi-stakeholder requirements with real-world outcomes, and navigating the dynamic landscape of design-led innovation.

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit, you will learn by engaging in dynamic tutorials, fostering active learning approaches with expert guidance. The in-person tutorials are complemented by using digital learning tools and platforms such as Canvas and first hand exposure to industry-relevant digital practices and technologies, preparing you to successfully achieve the unit learning outcomes.

Tutorials are the core learning approach in this unit. Through these interactive sessions, you will actively explore and apply the diverse set of design tools and tactics introduced in the unit. Tutorials often involve collaborative group activities, promoting peer-to-peer learning and the exchange of creative ideas.

Key Expectations:
To derive the maximum value from tutorials, active participation is crucial. This includes thorough preparation before each tutorial, engagement in discussions and group activities, and the application of design tools and tactics in real-world scenarios. The hands-on nature of tutorials will require your commitment to experiment with tools and tactics introduced in this unit for problem-solving and design tasks.

The learning approach aligns closely with the assessments in this unit, preparing you for success in the following tasks:

1. Problem Solving Task: The active problem-solving approach practiced in tutorials directly supports the Problem Solving Task assessment. You will develop the skills to tackle problems effectively, using appropriate rules and techniques, often in a scenario-based context.

2. Design: Tutorials provide a fertile ground for honing your design skills, whether it is creating visual representations, concept maps, or 2D and 3D models. The hands-on design practice during tutorials aligns seamlessly with the Design assessment, ensuring you are well-prepared to convey and communicate your strategic plan to a diverse audience.

Some of the material you will need and details about the tasks that you will undertake will be found on the DYN902 Canvas site. You will need to regularly connect with this site to be kept informed of latest news and of weekly requirements of the unit.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

In this unit, you will receive valuable feedback following a structured approach to enhance your learning and optimise your performance in this unit.

Feedback in this unit is delivered through various channels, including:

1. Tutorial Participation: You will gain insights into your understanding and application of design tools and tactics during interactive tutorials. Feedback will be provided by teaching staff and peers as you collaborate on projects and engage in discussions.

2. Written Feedback: For your review, you will receive written feedback on Assessments 1 and 2. This feedback is designed to directly relate to and inform your learning pathway in this degree program, aiding your skills improvement and development.

Feedback serves as a powerful tool to support your learning and growth. To make the most of it:

1. Reflect on Tutorial Feedback: After tutorials, take time to reflect on the feedback provided by both peers and teaching staff. Consider how you can apply the feedback to your future activities and assessments.

2. Review Written Feedback: When you receive written feedback, carefully analyse it to understand areas of strength and areas that require improvement. Use this feedback to enhance your future learning.

3. Feed Forward: The feedback you receive in this unit should be viewed as a feed forward mechanism. It is not just about evaluating your past performance but using this information to guide your future work. Apply the feedback to upcoming assessments and other learning experiences, fostering continuous improvement.

4. Engage in Self-Evaluation: Take ownership of your learning by using feedback for self-evaluation. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, set goals for improvement, and actively work towards achieving them.

Assessment

Overview

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Scenario-based problem solving task

This assessment involves addressing problems of limited scope by applying appropriate tools and tactics. It challenges your problem-solving skills within the context of strategic design thinking and the creative application of design tools and tactics. This task assesses your ability to analyse issues, apply structured approaches, and generate solutions, reflecting your understanding of the unit's foundational principles.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Design Strategy Concept

For this assessment, you will create a visual representation that could include a concept map, and/or 2D or 3D representations of a system, concept, or strategy plan. This task evaluates your capacity to apply design tools and tactics to convey complex ideas, strategies, or systems effectively. It assesses your competency in applying the unit's core concepts and methods as well as your ability to collaborate within complex teams for real world outcomes in the space of design-led innovation.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

All commencing CIESJ students are required to complete the mandatory CIESJ Student HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) Inductions.

There are no extraordinary risks associated with the learning and teaching activities in this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

BV99 Bachelor of Business

1. Demonstrate knowledge as it relates to contemporary issues, challenges and opportunities in Strategic Design.
   Relates to: Scenario-based problem solving task
2. Apply innovative practices to plan, manage and contribute to Strategic Design projects in a way that connects stakeholder requirements with real world outcomes.
   Relates to: Scenario-based problem solving task
3. Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
   Relates to: Scenario-based problem solving task
4. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
   Relates to: Design Strategy Concept
5. Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across diverse purposes and contexts.
   Relates to: Design Strategy Concept

DE77 Graduate Certificate in Strategic Design

1. Demonstrate knowledge as it relates to contemporary issues, challenges and opportunities in Strategic Design.
   Relates to: Scenario-based problem solving task, Design Strategy Concept
2. Apply innovative practices to plan, manage and contribute to Strategic Design projects in a way that connects stakeholder requirements with real-world outcomes.
   Relates to: Scenario-based problem solving task, Design Strategy Concept
3. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible judgement and decision making in individual and collaborative modes.
   Relates to: Scenario-based problem solving task, Design Strategy Concept

DE88 Graduate Diploma in Strategic Design

1. Demonstrate knowledge as it relates to contemporary issues, challenges and opportunities in Strategic Design.
   Relates to: Scenario-based problem solving task, Design Strategy Concept
2. Apply innovative practices to plan, manage and contribute to Strategic Design projects in a way that connects stakeholder requirements with real-world outcomes.
   Relates to: Scenario-based problem solving task, Design Strategy Concept
3. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible judgement and decision making in individual and collaborative modes.
   Relates to: Scenario-based problem solving task, Design Strategy Concept

DE99 Master of Design (Strategic Design)

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and holistic knowledge as it relate to contemporary issues, challenges and opportunities in Strategic Design
   Relates to: Scenario-based problem solving task, Design Strategy Concept
2. Apply innovative, systematic practices and approaches to plan, lead, deliver and manage Strategic Design projects in a way that connects multi-stakeholder requirements with real-world outcomes
   Relates to: Scenario-based problem solving task, Design Strategy Concept
3. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible judgement and decision making, recognising the importance of personal accountability, acumen and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
   Relates to: Scenario-based problem solving task, Design Strategy Concept