TAD3214

Contemporary discourse in design ( 6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader:

Offered:
Caulfield First semester 2006 (Day)
Caulfield Second semester 2006 (Day)

Synopsis: This unit will investigate contemporary issues in the interface of design with society and the environment. Design discourse centered on the moral dichotomies of judgement in design, such as practicality/impracticality, social use/private folly, labour-saving/unneccessary consumption, luxury/environmental nuisance will be critically investigated. The impact of this discourse on the students' areas of specialisation will be specifically addressed in the seminar program.

Objectives: On successful completion of this unit, students will: 1. approach existing designs with a critical sense of their deeper social and aesthetic values as well as the popular connotations of their styles; 2. discern symbolic associations in design and express links with a historical vocabulary of images and metaphors which operate in traditional interpretations; 3. support their intuitive opinions either in favour of a design or against certain designs with reasoned argument and engage the language of criticism in debating the sense or the vanity of certain spaces and objects; 4. be able to engage in the imaginative task of analysing design in ways which reveal its strengths and weaknesses; 5. project discriminating judgements with a sense of critical rigour which explores and challenges the existence of the principles of design; 6. feel comfortable with iconoclastic views of design classics wherever a coherent or poetic reason for disapproval seems justified.

Assessment: Written assignment (2000 words): 30%; Essay (3000 words): 60%; Short class presentation, attendance and participation: 10%

Contact Hours: 12 hours per week including, 3 hours lectures and seminars and 9 hours independent study weekly, or equivalent.

Prerequisites: TAD2214

Prohibitions: TAD3209, TAD3211, TAD3792