ADD305 - Strategic Design Studio
Unit details
| Year | 2027 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Credit point(s) | 1 |
| Previously coded as | ADD301, ADD303 |
| EFTSL value | 0.125 |
| Unit chair | Trimester 2: Maria Bates |
| Prerequisite | Students must have completed two level 2 ADD units |
| Corequisite | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment | 1 x 3-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment | 1 x 3-hour online seminar per week (livestreamed, recordings provided) |
| Typical study commitment | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Content
Strategic Communication Design Studio is a research-driven studio unit that positions design as a powerful agent of change. Students investigate design activism and design thinking as frameworks for analysing and responding to complex systemic problems, developing the critical skills and creative courage needed to deliver meaningful, impactful outcomes.
Students begin collaboratively, researching and examining real-world social problems to build a shared critical foundation. Drawing on multiple design disciplines, they explore how strategic communication design can address big picture challenges, from conception through to resolved, professionally considered outcomes.
Students are empowered to define and drive their own creative responses, collaborating with peers across disciplines to develop work that is both personally motivated and socially purposeful. The unit challenges students to think beyond conventional design practice, combining strategic thinking, activist sensibilities, and craft to take a meaningful step towards change.
Learning outcomes
Each unit in your course is a building block towards Deakin's Graduate Learning Outcomes - not all units develop and assess every Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO).
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Critically investigate and evaluate design activism and design thinking as frameworks for analysing complex systemic and social problems, synthesising research findings to inform and challenge strategic communication design responses. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical Thinking |
| ULO2 | Collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team to examine the human and place-based dimensions of a selected social problem, communicating shared insights through multimodal formats to identify opportunities where design can empower communities and contribute meaningfully to change. | GLO5: Problem solving GLO7: Teamwork GLO8: Global citizenship |
| ULO3 | Fluently apply strategic communication design methods, materials, and processes across multiple design disciplines to translate research insights into resolved, professionally considered outcomes that address complex social challenges. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO5: Problem solving GLO8: Global citizenship |
| ULO4 | Embrace considered risk-taking and iterative experimentation as drivers of socially purposeful design, critically reflecting on the human and place-based impact of design decisions to demonstrate growth, activist sensibility, and an emerging strategic design practice. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical Thinking GLO5: Problem solving GLO6: Self-management GLO7: Teamwork GLO8: Global citizenship |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Design Research Project | 1200 words or equivalent | 30% | Week 5 |
| Assessment 2: Design Execution | 1600 words or equivalent | 40% | Week 11 |
| Assessment 3: Progressive Design Portfolio | 1200 words or equivalent | 30% | Ongoing |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Hurdle requirements
To be eligible to obtain a pass in this unit, students must achieve an overall mark of at least 50% in assessment task 3, Progressive Design Portfolio to evidence a minimum proficiency in the aligned discipline learning outcomes included in this unit.
Learning resource
There is no prescribed text. Unit materials are provided via the unit site. This includes unit topic readings and references to further information.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit fee information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.