What you will study
You’ll learn about design by exploring different design principles and learning essential practical skills through six topics and short projects.
Topic 1
In the first topic, you’ll explore visual and layout design by learning some key graphic design principles and basic skills in creating digital images. You’ll try out these principles and skills in Project 1 when you design a cover for an album, podcast or digital audio product.
Topic 2
This topic explores material and making in design, introducing some product and physical design principles. It provides a step-by-step introduction to developing your drawing, prototyping, and communication skills. You’ll use these skills to complete Project 2 – to repurpose an existing object.
Topic 3
Topic 3 introduces the emerging field of algorithmic design, exploring how computers are used to engage in creative design work, not just as design tools. You’ll have a chance to try some basic coding for yourself by designing a tiling pattern for wallpaper.
Topic 4
The fourth topic introduces principles of designing the places where we live. It also introduces some key design skills and tools commonly used in the design of the built environment, leading to the design of your own ‘small place’.
Topic 5
This project explores the complexity of design through systems, user experience and service design principles. You’ll develop skills useful in understanding complex product-service systems and apply these in Project 5 to redesign a service.
Topic 6
The final topic focuses on your design practice, exploring what you’ve learned and your design values. In Project 6, you'll begin to prepare your final design portfolio and will use this to explore what areas of design interest you and what you want to do next.
You’ll end the module by developing your design portfolio and reflecting on your personal and professional development. Your portfolio brings together a professional body of work that reflects your specific interests and your emerging design practice and identity.
By the end of the module, you’ll have become familiar with different areas of design, explored your own design practices, and developed core design skills by applying them to design projects – all of which will be a solid foundation to continue your learning.
Vocational relevance
This module is about applying design principles and skills in various professional and disciplinary contexts. It offers a comprehensive introduction to core principles and skills that apply across all creative and design sectors. It’s an applied module where you learn from the experience of working on design project briefs, creating outputs that contribute to your design portfolio. Your design portfolio is useful to many different roles in the creative industries; part of your study involves selecting and focusing on what you are personally interested in.