module specification

Materiality (form, colour, surface and texture) affects meaning and value in all design. This module requires your critical evaluation of subtle and implicit design details, reflecting ethical and environmental design proposals expressed through materials and construction, considering how material selection and manipulation endows the artefact and/or interior with qualities and values.

Students will explore and experiment with both physical and virtual material representation, drawing on concepts and ideas originally generated within the studio. Outcomes will be developed through material and/ or constructional experimentation including scaled interventions or working models. Students will realise relevant design solutions for studio briefs, in response to specific end-users and/or sites.

Through in-depth practice-led research, students will consider the sustainable, social, functional and environmental impacts of material choices and the performance of these upon designed-spaces or objects.

Students will work towards a professional standard of presentation, developing a logical and creative approach to design problem solving, appropriate to the needs of users and clients.

Completion and pass (120 credits) of previous level.

Through studio projects, students will normally develop knowledge and experience of:
• research methods and recording LO1
• material research LO1
• reflective commentary and annotation presenting clarification and interpretation of concepts and proposals LO2
• environmental material issues:, sustainability and social impact LO2
• construction methods and practices LO3
• technical conventions of construction and detail drawing appropriate to industry standards LO4
• scaled modelling 2D and 3D production techniques and technologies LO3
• making and modelling appropriate to the approach of interior architecture, interior design or interior decoration LO3
• scaled drawings and systems appropriate to the approach of interior architecture, interior design or interior decoration LO4
• an self-produced portfolio for the project aligned with  industry standards LO4

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 accommodated. The module’s learning outcomes, its contents and delivery, have been scrutinised 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 progress 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 opportunities available to them, and how to shape their learning according to their ambitions.

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

Knowledge and Understanding
LO1 research and make sound material, construction or process choices for a range of contexts, defending those choices;

Cognitive Intellectual Skills
LO2 consider, balance and reflect on the complex and competing demands made by the sustainable, practical, ethical, economic and aesthetic issues linked to material, construction or process selection;

Subject Specific Practical Skills
LO3 accurately express design intentions in respect of materials through a range of industry standard professional realisation and communication techniques and through making artefacts, samples, mock ups and models, those techniques informed by users, clients and context;

Subject Specific Practical Skills
LO4 use and apply to a professional standard, appropriate detailed and scaled techniques and technical competences presenting material, interior  and construction details and proposals that fulfil the requirements for Interior Architecture, Interior Design or Interior Decoration as appropriate to course.

In the end of project reviews, students are expected to produce a coherent presentation, demonstrating project development, process and findings, together with individual critical evaluation of relative successes and failures, and to be able communicate and debate these with others.

Project work will be formatively assessed and reflected upon in feedback throughout, including continuing independent practice and associated health and safety procedures. 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 acted upon by the student.
The final mark is given at the end of the module, demonstrated through a portfolio of project work (as specified in project briefs). Work must be carefully organised and presented to indicate the development of work and the content clearly labelled. Students must attend timetabled studio and workshop sessions.

Blanc, A., (1994) Internal Components, Longman
Clarkson, J,. (2011) Inclusive design toolkit. Cambridge Engineering Design Centre

Colchester,C., (2000) The New Textiles, Thames & Hudson


Fuad-Luke, A., (2009) The eco-design handbook: a complete sourcebook for the home and office, Thames & Hudson.

Leydecker, S., (2013) Designing Interior Architecture, concept typology material construction, Birkhauser Verlag AG

Martinez, P., (2016) The New Ecological Home: Materials for Bioclimatic, Instituto Monsa de Ediciones; Bilingual edition

Reed, R., (2017) Color + design: transforming interior space, Fairchild

Schittich, C. (ed.), (2002) Interior Spaces: Space, Light, Material, Birkhauser
Ebook:
Schittich, C., (2012) Interior Spaces Space, Light, Materials, De Gruyter. https://www.dawsonera.com/abstract/9783034615129

Smith, P., (2003) Sustainability at the Cutting Edge, Architectural Press
Ebook:
Smith, P. F., (2007) Sustainability at the Cutting Edge: Emerging Technologies for low energy buildings, Elsevier. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=291702.

Stoller, D., (2004) Stitch 'n bitch nation, Workman Publications

Thomson, R., (2007) Manufacturing Processes for Design Professionals, Thames and Hudson