Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Theory and Research for Design

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
ARCH1105	City Campus	Undergraduate	315H Architecture & Design	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 2 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 1 2013
ARCH1105	City Campus	Undergraduate	320H Architecture & Urban Design	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2014, Sem 1 2015, Sem 1 2016, Sem 1 2017, Sem 1 2018, Sem 1 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 1 2021, Sem 1 2022, Sem 1 2023, Sem 1 2024, Sem 1 2025

Course Coordinator: Michelle Mantsio

Course Coordinator Phone: Contact via email

Course Coordinator Email: michelle.mantsio@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 100.08.02

Course Coordinator Availability: Contact via email

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You should have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite course Historical and Theoretical Precedents ARCH1104 before you commence this course.

You may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course. Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. For further information go to Recognition of prior learning (RPL) in Higher Education.

Course Description

In this course, you will develop advanced and independent design research skills. You will be introduced to diverse theoretical frameworks for design research and learn to identify how these can inform and extend your design thinking, concerns, practice and interests.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

In this course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:

• Conceptualise and engage in research through design as part of the creative process to open the potential for new understandings, experimentation and innovation.
• Communicate your ideas and designs verbally, visually and textually through a range of media to your peers as well as professional, academic and public audiences.
• Reflect, analyse, synthesise, critique and evaluate your own work as well that of your peers and apply your knowledge and skills with initiative and insight in professional practice and/or scholarship.
• Engage in research with an enhanced appreciation and understanding of theoretical, environmental, social, historical, cultural and technical contexts in relation to the activity of interior design and be able to engage and extend this knowledge through the practice of design.
• Understand and value your individual abilities and way of working as an interior designer; to initiate independent strategies together with the ability to plan and time manage projects; to develop a personal work ethic based on initiative and self-motivation.
• Enter professional practice and/or postgraduate study with the ability and confidence to execute a project and/or piece of research with some independence, to collaborate with others, to contribute new understandings, to listen and continue to learn.

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Identify, analyse and critique different ideas and theoretical positions relevant to design practice and research.
2. Propose an interior design research problem and critically evaluate possible theoretical frameworks to underpin an investigation.
3. Design and undertake a sustained and self-directed enquiry.
4. Select and apply a range of diverse communication strategies to effectively communicate ideas to different audiences.

Overview of Learning Activities

The course is taught through the following learning activities: lectures, group seminars, consultations with the tutor, and individual project work.

Overview of Learning Resources

You will identify the learning resources specific to your own interests in conjunction with your tutors. These may include readings, critical study of precedents, and further refinement of the communication and other skills that you have acquired in the previous levels of the course. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

It is advisable that you have a personal computer of an appropriate specification.

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Detailed references, including weekly readings and ongoing updated information will be made available to students in the myRMIT Canvas site

References

Detailed references and ongoing updated information will be made available to students in the myRMIT Canvas site

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. 

Assessment 1 – Annotated Research Guide - 20%
Linked Course Learning Outcomes: CLO1, CLO2

Assessment 2 – Research Positioning Diagram - 40%
Linked Course Learning Outcomes: CLO1, CLO3, CLO4

Assessment 3 – Research Positioning Text – 40%
Linked Course Learning Outcomes: CLO1, CLO3, CLO4

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. 

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability, it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.