ABH334 Design in Society
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | ABH334 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | ABB202 or DTB205 |
| Equivalent(s): | DTB304 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,164 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,356 |
| International unit fee | $4,896 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | ABH334 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | ABB202 or DTB205 |
| Equivalent: | DTB304 |
Overview
This unit addresses the relationships between design and everyday socio-cultural practices enabling you to apply this knowledge in contemporary designed environments analysis such as work and exhibiting environments and service scapes. It provides critical, theoretical and analytical opportunities to develop knowledge of the way the designed world intersects with social life. These insights are crucial to the capacity of design to respond in an evidenced-based and socially responsible way to the designed world as lived and experienced. The unit reviews theories and case studies to illuminate the injustices between design and everyday practice across cultures and time and provides an opportunity to apply these critical insights in an analysis of a designed environment. It focuses on inclusion and the socio-cultural aspects of design and complements the unit, ABB202 Design Psychology, while also helping consolidate your final year learning in preparation for professional practice.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Use theories and concepts to understand the relationship between design and society.
- Identify analytical tools to study these relationships and processes.
- Apply analytical research skills and tools to study the dynamic relationship between design and the social world.
- Conduct case study analyses of these relationships to enhance existing design concepts.
Content
Topics covered in this unit include:
- conceptualising design in society
- case studies of design in society, which may include examples from ageing, disability and indigenous cultures
- framing contemporary design problems by analysing and investigating design in society.
Learning Approaches
The unit will involve you in the blended delivery of lectures, class exercises and two projects. Strategies to be adopted in teaching the unit and promoting your learning include: relating theories to tangible case studies accessible through various media sources: for example, film, television, online, and social media exploring and practising theoretical analysis by applying it to selected cases group discussion and worked examples of applying theories and methods to case studies workshops to support application of unit concepts in assessment items.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Summative assessment will be based on assignments introduced within, and supported through teaching activities. The assignments will provide you with the opportunity to develop relevant conceptual and analytical insights and how they can be applied to design contexts through the analysis of socio-cultural aspects of design in a selected setting. Teaching activities are focused on supporting and providing formative feedback throughout the semester.
Assessment
Overview
There are two assessments for this unit. The first assessment provides key theories, concepts and analytical tools relevant to design in society. The final assessment is framed around a case study on design in society relationships that will be useful in framing your future design concepts.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Spatial Critique
Written critique of a typical everyday setting using a dramaturgical framework and key sociological theories, concepts and analytical tools presented in the unit to reveal the integral relationship between design and society.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Case Study
An essay that illustrates understanding of key theories, concepts and analytical tools and the way you apply these to a setting and case study. The case study will identify insights into design-society relationships that will be useful in framing future design concepts.
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
All resources required for this unit will be identified and where relevant provided through the Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
All commencing Faculty of Engineering students are required to complete the Mandatory Safety Induction
There are no extraordinary risks associated with the classroom/lecture activities in this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)
- Apply theoretical, practical and cultural knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines and specialist knowledge and skills in one built environment area.
Relates to: Spatial Critique, Case Study - Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
Relates to: Spatial Critique, Case Study - Plan, develop and complete research and other projects.
Relates to: Case Study