DYN904 Designers as Intermediaries
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: | DYN904 |
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| Prerequisite(s): | For BV99 students only: 192 credit points of completed undergraduate study in BV99. OR Admission into postgraduate courses. |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,216 |
| International unit fee | $4,452 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | DYN904 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 192 credit points of completed undergraduate study in BV99, or admission into any postgraduate course. |
| Assumed Knowledge: | None |
| Coordinator: | Marcus Foth | m.foth@qut.edu.au |
Overview
In this unit, students will explore the role of designers as intermediaries in collaborative design projects. Designers, in this context, serve as facilitators between various stakeholders, bridging the gap between creative expertise and diverse project requirements. This approach focuses on the system of stakeholders and the problem-solving process in design. The unit emphasises practical skills such as effective communication and project management. These skills are highly relevant across disciplines, making this unit a valuable asset in an interdisciplinary world. This unit's learning scope ensures that students acquire a strong foundation for future design subjects and their professional career endeavours.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Explain the pivotal role of designers as intermediaries who navigate complex, interdisciplinary project ecosystems in order to drive strategy and innovation.
- Formulate, apply, and critically assess intermediation techniques tailored to address intricate design challenges and employ practical skills needed to orchestrate collaborative efforts within multifaceted projects.
- Engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, teams, and professionals across multiple disciplines and foster effective communication, shared understanding, and collective problem-solving within complex, real-world projects.
- Lead intermediation projects in real-world settings and successfully negotiate the alignment of stakeholders' interests for mutual benefit.
Content
In this unit, students will delve into the pivotal role of designers as intermediaries in collaborative design projects. They will explore various aspects of intermediation in the design field, emphasising the importance of designing not only strategic plans but also effective systems of stakeholder intermediation, diplomacy and problem-solving processes.
To foster a rich learning experience, the content is strategically designed to incorporate diverse perspectives and promote inclusion. Students will delve into the pivotal role of designers as intermediaries by engaging with case studies and examples that span various cultural, social, and economic contexts. The content includes a comprehensive exploration of how intermediaries navigate diverse stakeholder landscapes, emphasising the importance of cultural sensitivity and inclusive practices. Through discussions and practical exercises, students are encouraged to consider and incorporate different perspectives in the design process. The unit content also explores international dimensions of design intermediation, ensuring that students gain insights into diverse design practices and considerations. By embedding diverse perspectives and inclusion throughout the course content, DYN904 aims to prepare students for the intricacies of real-world design scenarios that require collaboration across a spectrum of backgrounds and perspectives.
Within this context, the broad areas to be covered will include the following:
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Understanding Intermediation: Students will learn the core principles and concepts of intermediation in design, focusing on its role in innovation ecosystems. They will gain insights into how designers act as connectors and facilitators between stakeholders to achieve innovative outcomes.
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Intermediation Techniques: This section will introduce students to a range of techniques used by design intermediaries to address complex design challenges. They will explore methods for mediating between different stakeholders, managing conflicts, and ensuring effective communication.
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Strategic Design Intermediaries: The unit will dive into the various approaches and techniques employed by strategic design intermediaries in complex projects. Students will learn how to create briefs, set project goals, and work with diverse stakeholders to develop innovative design solutions.
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Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Collaboration is key in the role of a designer as an intermediary. This part of the unit will focus on effective strategies for stakeholder engagement and building productive working relationships.
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Project Management: To effectively intermediate in complex design projects, students will need strong project management skills. This aspect of the unit will cover the fundamentals of project planning, organisation, and execution.
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Real-world Case Studies: Throughout the unit, students will examine real-world case studies to understand how design intermediation is applied in practical scenarios. These case studies will offer insights into the challenges and successes of designers as intermediaries in various industries and domains.
The unit content is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the role of designers as intermediaries in complex design projects and equip them with the strategic, tactical and discursive skills and knowledge needed to excel in this role. It offers a strong foundation for students pursuing careers in interdisciplinary design fields and professional practice.
The unit will also expose students to UN Sustainable Development Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
Learning Approaches
In this unit, you will participate in a dialogue-based learning experience in class that provides a platform for you to practice and showcase your understanding through the development of creative intermediation skills. You will engage in problem-solving and creative processes tailored to the specific needs of strategy designers, simulating authentic real-world scenarios. To successfully achieve the unit learning outcomes, you will learn through the following approaches:
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Tutorials replicate authentic real-world environments where you will tackle complex, interdisciplinary challenges as an intermediary. These sessions are designed to develop your creative skills, problem-solving abilities, and your understanding of the role of designers in intermediation. Expect to engage in hands-on, collaborative projects that mirror actual professional scenarios.
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Problem-Based Learning: To gain a deep understanding of the role of design intermediaries in complex eco-systems, you will critically analyse a case study. This task involves examining a real-world situation within its context, applying discipline-specific models and constructs. It offers an opportunity for you to critically engage with a problem, combining theory and practice.
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Team-Based Learning: Collaboration is key in the role of a designer as an intermediary. This unit requires you to work closely with your peers. The intermediation project pitch is focused on real-world intermediation, specifically in the fields of health innovation, advanced manufacturing, transport futures, or the circular economy. Collaborative group work will be a central component of your experience, mirroring the dynamics of professional practice.
Key Expectations:
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Active Participation: Regular attendance in class is paramount to make the most of the expertise and guidance by staff and peers. Your active involvement in class and online activities, discussions, and collaborative group work is expected.
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Professional Collaboration: As this unit emphasises team-based learning, you are expected to actively collaborate with your peers. Engaging in a cooperative and professional manner will not only enhance your learning experience but also prepare you for effective interdisciplinary teamwork in your future career.
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Effective Communication: Clear and professional communication skills are vital. Throughout the unit, you should strive to articulate your ideas effectively, both in written and verbal form, to facilitate collaboration and convey your creative solutions.
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Utilisation of Resources: The unit site is a valuable resource that centralises essential materials and information. Regularly accessing and utilising these resources is encouraged to stay informed and prepared for your class activities.
This learning approach is strategically designed to build a solid foundation for your role as a designer-intermediary. It ensures you acquire the practical skills, theoretical knowledge, and collaborative experiences necessary for success in complex, real-world design scenarios, where you act as the bridge between various stakeholders.
Some of the material you will need and details about the tasks that you will undertake will be found on the DYN904 Canvas site. You will need to regularly visit and engage 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, the feedback process is integrated to facilitate your learning journey. You will actively participate in class sessions where your formative ideas and project developments will be shared with your peers and the teaching team. This interactive environment encourages a sense of a learning community. This will foster the sharing and discussion of emerging concepts in the realm of design intermediation practice.
Feedback in this unit is delivered through various channels, including:
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Real-time Collaborative Feedback: Within the class settings, you will engage in real-time discussions and collaborative feedback exchanges. This immediate interaction allows for constructive criticism, idea refinement, and peer learning.
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Detailed Assessment Criteria: At the beginning of the semester, you will receive detailed Assessment Task Descriptions and Marking Rubrics. These documents will clearly outline the assessment criteria and performance standards, providing you with a transparent understanding of the expected benchmarks.
The feedback you receive is intended to enhance your learning in this unit and prepare you for future units and your professional career. You can use this feedback in the following ways:
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Active Engagement: Actively engage in class discussions, reflecting on the feedback provided by peers and instructors. This reflective process will help you identify areas for improvement in your professional practice.
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Criterion-Based Self-Assessment: Use the assessment criteria and rubrics as a self-assessment tool. Regularly evaluate your work against these criteria to identify strengths and areas that require further development. This process will guide your ongoing work and support incremental improvement.
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Interdisciplinary Application: Understand that feedback is not confined to this unit alone; it extends to your overall education and future career. Learn to apply the feedback you receive to enhance your problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and professional practice in strategic design and beyond.
The feedback strategies in this unit are not only designed to inform your current work but also to empower you with the tools to continuously improve your abilities as a designer-intermediary in complex, interdisciplinary contexts.
Assessment
Overview
This unit employs a structured assessment framework that encompasses three distinct tasks, all strategically designed to measure your attainment of the unit's learning outcomes. These assessments are integrated into the learning process and build upon the knowledge and skills developed throughout the unit.
Throughout the unit, you will participate in formative assessments and learning activities to develop the knowledge and skills essential for the successful completion of the summative assessments. These activities include:
- Tutorials: Interactive presentations and discussions led by teaching staff or guest lecturers on the role of design intermediaries.
- Peer Feedback: The opportunity to provide and receive feedback from peers and teaching staff, fostering an iterative improvement process.
- Self-Assessment: Reflecting on your progress, identifying areas of improvement, and setting goals for enhancement.
These formative learning activities are strategically designed to empower you to build the knowledge and skills necessary for the successful completion of the summative assessments. Regular feedback from both peers and teaching staff will guide your development, ensuring you are well-prepared to demonstrate your learning effectively in the assessments. Your journey through these assessments will equip you to become a responsible and socially-conscious strategic designer with intermediation skills, ready to apply your skills and knowledge and practice ethically and confidently in your future career.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: The 3Cx3 Matrix Application
In this problem-solving task, you will apply the 3Cx3 Matrix tool to a real-world scenario relevant to strategic design. You will be provided with a scenario featuring a ‘Commerce’ partner and a ‘Community’ partner. The ‘Culture’ partner is represented by you as the designer. The task requires you to populate the 3Cx3 Matrix with relevant insights and ideas, joining the dots and prioritising key areas where necessary. The final submission will include a completed matrix, and an accompanying explanation providing your design rationale that demonstrates lateral thinking skills and outlines potential intermediation strategies for addressing the challenge and leading strategic design projects. This task assesses your ability to critically apply intermediation techniques in complex ecosystems.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Intermediation project pitch
In small groups, you will develop and deliver a pitch presentation for their proposed intermediation project based on the real-world scenario introduced in class for Assessment 1. You will choose to pitch your proposal either aimed at the Commerce or the Community partner, tailoring your language, tone, and content accordingly. The presentation, delivered in class in Week 10, should outline key aspects of the intermediation strategy, stakeholder engagement plan, and expected outcomes. This assessment evaluates your ability to effectively work as part of a team, communicate and justify your strategic design proposal in a professional setting, demonstrating adaptability and negotiation skills essential for real-world design practice.
This assignment is not eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Understanding Intermediation in complex eco-systems
The case study assessment invites you to undertake an analytical exploration of a real-world scenario. You will demonstrate your ability to analyse and reflect on the intricacies of an organisation situated within its authentic context. The case study is strategically designed to deepen your comprehension of the multifaceted role of a design intermediary leading complex projects and project negotiations within diverse ecosystems. Through this assessment, you will critically engage with the evolving theory and practice of intermediation in the realms of complex social and institutional ecosystems.
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
You will be provided with a number of required readings that will be accessible via the Canvas site and/or the QUT Library. You will also have access to a range of software applications and online tools and platforms.
The unit Canvas site will provide a central repository for digital resources as well as documentation on unit housekeeping. You are expected to both review the unit Canvas site and check your QUT student email account at least daily.
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
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.BV99 Bachelor of Business
- Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
Relates to: The 3Cx3 Matrix Application, Intermediation project pitch - Demonstrate knowledge as it relates to contemporary issues, challenges and opportunities in Strategic Design.
Relates to: Understanding Intermediation in complex eco-systems - 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: The 3Cx3 Matrix Application, Intermediation project pitch, Understanding Intermediation in complex eco-systems - Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
Relates to: Understanding Intermediation in complex eco-systems - Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across diverse purposes and contexts.
Relates to: Intermediation project pitch
DE77 Graduate Certificate in Strategic Design
- 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: The 3Cx3 Matrix Application, Intermediation project pitch, Understanding Intermediation in complex eco-systems - Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible judgement and decision making in individual and collaborative modes.
Relates to: The 3Cx3 Matrix Application, Intermediation project pitch, Understanding Intermediation in complex eco-systems
DE88 Graduate Diploma in Strategic Design
- 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: The 3Cx3 Matrix Application, Intermediation project pitch, Understanding Intermediation in complex eco-systems - Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible judgement and decision making in individual and collaborative modes.
Relates to: The 3Cx3 Matrix Application, Intermediation project pitch, Understanding Intermediation in complex eco-systems
DE99 Master of Design (Strategic Design)
- 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: The 3Cx3 Matrix Application, Intermediation project pitch, Understanding Intermediation in complex eco-systems - 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: The 3Cx3 Matrix Application, Intermediation project pitch, Understanding Intermediation in complex eco-systems - Demonstrate an ability to research and apply established theories and plan and execute a substantial research project, cultivating and communicating designerly thinking
Relates to: Intermediation project pitch, Understanding Intermediation in complex eco-systems