Designing Environments

Subject 880-104 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 1 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Semester 1, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Semester 2, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

On-campus

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 12 hour of lectures and 36 hours of seminars, studios, workshops and site visits.
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours
Prerequisites: -
Corequisites: -
Recommended Background Knowledge: -
Non Allowed Subjects: -
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. This course requires all students to enrol in subjects where they must actively and safely contribute to class activities. Students who feel their disability will affect their meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Coordinator

Dr Anoma Pieris

Contact

-
Subject Overview:

This subject provides an introduction to how people identify needs and wants and devise ways of satisfying them through built or engineered manipulation of the environment. Students will consider the antecedents, processes, actors and consequences of designing constructed and engineered environments, systems and artefacts. Issues of movement and perception, environmental behaviour and the responsible use of physical environmental systems will be explored. The subject will address:

  • Design processes and methods, including problem-solving and design proposal perspectives, methods of framing and analysis of design tasks, creative thinking, and methods of synthesis and
    representation of design outcomes
  • Case studies of various scales and times to examine designed outcomes with regard to social, cultural, economic, resource, production and actor relationships
  • Design professions: their history in the production of environments, systems and artefacts, and their differing educations, organisation and practices
Objectives: -
Assessment:
  • Students will produce 4 preparatory assignments (10% each) before week 7, and a major design assignment at the end of the semester (40%);
  • A reflective journal / workbook will cover project submissions, research, and learning in lectures and studios, and will be submitted in the middle and at the end of the semester (10% each);
  • A proportion (10%) of all marks will be awarded for class participation.
Prescribed Texts: -
Recommended Texts: Lawson, B. How Designers Think
De Bono, E. Six Thinking Hats
Larson, E. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

At the completion of this subject students should have the following skills:

  • Developed an understanding of skills and approaches to design tasks and outcomes
  • Developed written, graphic, numeric, diagrammatic and verbal skills in relation to design and creative thinking
  • Begun an exploration of designing for people
Links to further information: http://www.benvs.unimelb.edu.au/
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Environments
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Architecture

Download PDF version.