Designing Environments

Subject ENVS10004 (2016)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 1 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period 29-Feb-2016 to 29-May-2016
Assessment Period End 24-Jun-2016
Last date to Self-Enrol 11-Mar-2016
Census Date 31-Mar-2016
Last date to Withdraw without fail 06-May-2016

Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period 25-Jul-2016 to 23-Oct-2016
Assessment Period End 18-Nov-2016
Last date to Self-Enrol 05-Aug-2016
Census Date 31-Aug-2016
Last date to Withdraw without fail 23-Sep-2016


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Contact Hours: 1 hour lecture for the first 11 weeks of semester; 1 x 3 hours studio per week throughout semester.
Total Time Commitment:

170 hours

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

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. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Andrew Hutson, Mr Scott Woods

Contact

Email: woods.scott@unimelb.edu.au

The Eastern Precinct (building 138)
(between Doug McDonell building and Eastern Resource Centre)
Enquiries:
Current Student: http://ask.unimelb.edu.au/
Web: http://msd.unimelb.edu.au/

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
Learning Outcomes:

At the completion of this subject students should be able to:

  • Introduce and practise processes and methods of designing and creative thinking;
  • Analyse the social, logistical, economic and resource aspects that contribute to design tasks and outcomes;
  • Introduce the actors in design processes, including the contribution of design professions to the creation of designed environments, systems and artefacts.
Assessment:
  • By the middle of the semester, students will produce 2 preparatory assignments, each equivalent to 400 words and worth 10% of the final mark.
  • By the end of the semester, students will produce an interim design assignment equivalent to 800 words and worth 20% of the final mark and a major design assignment equivalent to 1600 words and worth 40% of the final mark.
  • A reflective journal or workbook will also be submitted in the middle and at the end of the semester. Each of the journal/workbook submissions is equivalent to 400 words and worth 10% of the final mark.
Prescribed Texts: None
Recommended Texts:

Lawson, B. How Designers Think.
De Bono, E. Six Thinking Hats.

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 Environments
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Architecture major
Civil (Engineering) Systems major
Environmental Engineering Systems major
Environmental Geographies, Politics and Cultures major
Environments Discipline subjects
Geomatics (Geomatic Engineering) major
Landscape Architecture major
Urban Design and Planning major
Related Breadth Track(s): Urban Design and Planning
Architecture

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