module specification

Together with the Major Project Realisation module, this module is intended to pre-pare 3D Design students for independent practice, entry into the professional work-place, or for higher studies.

Through synthesis of knowledge of processes and principles, using an appropriate range of intellectual, creative and practical skills, students will design and develop self-directed projects. These will require negotiated and approved project proposals. Students will undertake in-depth research, well constructed design and making strat-egies and the exercise of thinking skills resulting in a significant body of creative work for exhibition. Using creative exploration and experimentation, students will undertake research, idea generation, concept development, material investigation, sampling, modelling or prototyping and visualisations that lead towards the project proposals.

The module will require students to critique and reflect upon their own work, adopt the professional standards of their disciplines and their positions in their creative sectors. The module emphasises self-direction and personal focus whilst acknowledging ex-ternal and professional expectations and constraints.
Through the projects students will affirm their creative identities as they prepare to en-ter their professional fields and evidence their understanding of their future direction and position including in the context of professional responsibility and ethics.

Completion and pass (120 credits) of previ-ous level.

The module will provide students with opportunities to deepen their understanding of how to define problems and construct and conduct a programme of research appropriate to specialist interests in a profes-sional context.  L.O 1

Students will refine and develop their ability to present and propose ideas and solutions to a professional standard including the communi-cation of personal creative identity.  L.O 2

The module will enable students to articulate their practice in the con-text of a discipline specific arena.  L.O 3

Projects will enable a range of learning opportunities such as formative feedback from industry-specialist staff, live critique and feedback from peers, specialised publication, presentation or exhibition practice.  L.O 4

Scheduled teaching ensures that independent study is effective and addresses the learning outcomes and assessment tasks. Students are expected to, and have the opportunity to, continue with their studies outside of scheduled classes. There will be a range of learning strategies deployed and individual learning styles will be accom-modated. The module’s learning outcomes, its contents and delivery, have been scru-tinised and will be regularly reviewed to ensure an inclusive approach to pedagogic practice.

The module and course utilise the University’s blended learning platform to support and reinforce learning, to foster peer-to-peer communication and to facilitate tutorial support for students. Reflective learning is promoted through assessment items and interim formative feedback points that ask students to reflect on their progress, seek help where they identify the opportunity for improvement in learning strategies and outcomes, and make recommendations to themselves for future development. Throughout the module, students build a body of work, including reflections on pro-gress and achievement.

The School’s programme of employability events and embedded work-related learning within the curriculum supports students’ personal development planning. Through these initiatives, students are increasingly able, as they progress from year to year, to understand the professional environment of their disciplines, the various opportuni-ties available to them, and how to shape their learning according to their ambitions.

At the end of the module, students will be able to:

1. Knowledge and Understanding
propose and present their design and making process and outcomes, demonstrating critical self-reflection and clear understanding of the professional and ethical context and presentation requirements for the work;
2. Cognitive Intellectual Skills
manage and continuously evaluate the project development process in the context of complex and changing scenarios, achieving the professional standards required for graduate practice;
3. Transferable Skills
identify design issues or situations requiring analysis and resolution, providing a ra-tionale for their choices and decisions, and construct viable proposals appropriate to their discipline;
4. Subject Specific Practical Skills
design and undertake a sustained 3D design development process using an appro-priate range of resources, techniques, materials, media and discipline-specific knowledge, developing a personal design identity and articulating a creative direction.

At regular critiques or tutorials, students are expected to produce a coherent account of their design and making project in progress, together with critical evaluation of suc-cesses and issues for further research, development or revision. Formative feedback will be given in response to the project plan.
All students are required to undertake formal interim presentations with evidence of continuous reflective journals responding to studio critique and tutorial guidance. Work presented will be subject to formal studio feedback from a panel of disciplinary specialists. This will inform final assessment marks and must be considered and act-ed upon by the student.
The final mark is given at the end of the module, following assessment of a compre-hensive portfolio of all relevant developmental and presentation work and the final proposal itself. Work must be carefully organised and presented to indicate the devel-opment of work and the content clearly labeled. Students are required to attend time-tabled studio and workshop sessions.

Portfolio

A portfolio of student–produced 2D and 3D work addressing the tasks and criteria as set in the studio brief, including research proposals and presenta-tion of outcomes.
The work can be present-ed in a range of ways in-cluding display/exhibition, portfolio and presented 3D work with additional blogs/websites & presen-tations.

Boyle, G. (2003) Design Project Management, Ashgate
Cooper, R. and Press, M. (1994) The Design Agenda, Wiley

Additional texts and other reference materials will be identified by studio tutors annu-ally in support of the specific studio theme.

Some of these books are available as ebooks: http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/