module specification

This module is primarily practice-based, however the curriculum has theoretical element intended to be applied to the practice of a real-work system. This module offers knowledge and experience of system and institutional design theories combined with creative practices in art and design. ‘New Commons’ principles and related theories will  be used to integrate the learning with a contemporary network society. This interdisciplinary approach enables innovation and imagination with a wider understanding of the environment within which we produce work for a socially equitable environment. These may range from localized supply and demand chains of products to the design of localised informal and institutional infrastructures.

For the module’s system design skills, you will choose and map a system that affects your field, institutional context, site and practice. You will critically analyse the wider system that impacts your subject field of study to assess how it is aiding or hindering planetary or social justice or injustices. This module looks at broader national and global systems that impact specific problems. You will also learn about the human and non-human relationships that such systems create, produce and institutionalise as cultural norms. These systems may relate to cultural, economic, political, ecological and community issues and values, or power structures, access to housing markets, or other.

For the module’s institutional design skills, you will learn about the governance of the system. Topics covered by lectures will include inclusive institutional design, collaborative governance models and organisational aesthetics. You will be asked to analyse specific governance and institutional case studies to ascertain the inequalities to be designed out.

The module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills to understand how to imagine new forms of infrastructure within which you can initiate your own projects and future practice. You will be exposed to policies related to equality, ethics and inclusivity and will learn the fund-raising skills necessary to pursue them.

Workshops, seminars and lectures will include:

System design thinking linked to discourse of the commons as localised system thinking (LO1-4);

Institutional design as a discourse which also includes relations of power and empowerment, individualism and collectivism, and forms of labour relations (LO3,4);

Organisational theories, experience and aesthetic and commons governance (LO2-4);

Peer-to-peer financial models including circular and inclusive economies (LO5).

All lecture material will be accessible online and lectures will be video recorded enabling remote learning.

You will be offered a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops where tutors will work directly with you on your chosen projects/case studies.

Independent learning includes:

Peer review and critiques

You will be asked to critique each other’s analytical work. There will be group activities in developing your analysis of institutional design or systems you chose as case study and you will be asked to present your analysis to relevant external bodies including your own place of work or others offered through the course;

Public Presentations

These enable you to have alternative and real-life input into your ongoing analysis work through which you will also learn the presentation skills appropriate to your unique project and character: the public nature of the presentations will provide platform for debate and engagement in the wider world;

Self-directed study

This is core to the module and used as the preparation for discussions, seminars and workshops, planning your studies and reviewing your personal development as an ongoing process.

On successful completion of the module, to the standard expected at Level 7, you will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

1. Understand and engage in complex system thinking;

Cognitive Intellectual Abilities

2. Analyse relationships produced by institutional and other forms of systems, for example labour relations, power relations, care relations;

Transferable Skills

3. Realise common good based economies;

Subject-Specific Practical Skills

4. Embed design in collaborative governance and institutional systems;

Professionalism and Values

5. Understand and apply the role of design and creativity in ethical forms of governance and system design.

The module is assessed through two components as follows.

Visual coursework illustrating the mapping and analysis of the system and/or institutional design of an existing case study. This is where you will deploy your analytical and critical skills as well as an appropriate approach to communicate your learning and findings. You will be asked to explain and demonstrate how you would change systemic and institutional issues you have found. The format of the visual coursework to be submitted will be negotiated and agreed. (LO1-4)

A sample funding application. You will be supported to find sources of funding that can address the issues found in your case studies. As systemic and institutional change requires financing this aspect will demonstrate your ability to resource systemic change. (LO 5)

Student progress is monitored and discussed in regular tutorials, group reviews and presentations, in which formative feedback is provided on an ongoing basis. Summative feedback will be provided at the end of the projects.

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