Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Technology 4 (Furniture Design)

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
GRAP2386	City Campus	Undergraduate	320T Architecture & Urban Design	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2015, Sem 2 2017, Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019
GRAP2386	City Campus	Undergraduate	375T Vocational Design and Social Context	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2020, Sem 2 2021
GRAP2386	City Campus	Undergraduate	515T Creative Industries	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2022, Sem 2 2023, Sem 2 2024, Sem 1 2025

Course Coordinator: Julian Pratt

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 4820

Course Coordinator Email: julian.pratt@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 71.02.02

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Course requisite - required prior study - GRAP2376. Students are expected to have completed the specified study and will be directed to amend their enrolment if course requisite requirements are not met.
 

Course Description

Technology 4 (Furniture Design) is concerned with introducing you to the broad range of technological contexts and practices involved in furniture design. A focus is given to the role that you play in constructing their own relationships with technology. You will explore two contexts of technology in the course in practical sense and will be exposed to a diverse range of technologies used in the design and manufacture of products.
The focus of this course is to apply the theory of sustainable manufacture to real world problems. There is an emphasis on the use of new and emerging materials and the effective use of production flow to ensure savings and to eliminate waste.
 

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) of the AD007 Associate Degree in Design (Furniture Design):

 
1 Explore materials and modern manufacturing methods to develop concepts to proposal or prototype for both local and international corporate or individual clients
2 Design and realise innovative and novel furniture products as part of collaborative team and as an independent designer.
3 Apply and creatively adapt theoretical and technical knowledge and skills to your practice of furniture design.
4 Identify and combine principles and concepts in art and design, the craft of making, the technology of creation and manufacture together with ergonomic factors to develop furniture solutions to complex and varied problems.
5 Evaluate your own work, ideas and concepts, including self, peer and industry critique.
6 Articulate and transmit design ideas and details through a variety of methods and technologies to be able to present design outcomes for others to understand and engage with.
7 Present and communicate furniture prototypes for sustainable futures which consider the professional and ethical practice of furniture design in a global societal cultural context.
8 Apply initiative and judgement in exploration in, planning of, problem solving and decision making in your work.

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
1 Explore and investigate advanced and/or alternative materials and processes for furniture production.
2 Establish limits and goals of material and process testing.
3 Clearly catalogue and document materials and technological aspects of furniture production.
4 Justify the use of technological processes and materials.
5 Develop new propositions for contemporary furniture.
6 Produce components and construct prototypes in ways that creatively challenge and champion sustainable design.
7 Review outcomes and reflect on learning and achievements, as well as those of peers.
 

Overview of Learning Activities

You will be engaged in learning that involves a range of activities both face to face and online such as lectures, tutorials, group and class discussion, group activities and individual research. You will be investigating technologies, materials and processes as well as applying this knowledge to propose and realise new design outcomes. You will be able to develop your work in relation to your own specific areas of interest in your professional practice.

Overview of Learning Resources

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided will be provided by your lecturer including books, references and web sources.
Student learning resources available include access to computer laboratories, relevant software and access to workshop equipment and facilities. 
You will also be expected to seek further resources and materials relevant to the focus of your own learning.

Online learning tools and content
 As a student in this program, you can access online learning tools and resources for your program and associated courses from the RMIT student website. https://www.rmit.edu.au/student

RMIT will provide you with specific course materials for learning through our online system (Canvas). The course and workshop notes are posted on Canvas. https://rmit.instructure.com

RMIT Library
The library provides guides on academic referencing http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/referencing along with specific subject guides. The University Library has extensive resources for Furniture Design students. The Library has produced a subject guide that includes quality online and print resources for your studies http://rmit.libguides.com/furnituredesign

The library also provides a variety of resources including databases, e-journals, e-books and websites. You can find more information on Library services at: https://www.rmit.edu.au/library 

 

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 for this course is ongoing throughout the semester and feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. 

Assignment 1 Project – Object prototyping 50%     
Mapped to CLO 1,4,5 & 6 Individual

Assignment 2 Materials Investigation 10%     
Mapped to CLO 2,3,& 7 Group

Assignment 3 Case Study 10%     
Mapped to CLO 3 & 7 Individual

Assignment 4 Materials Evaluation 30%     
Mapped to CLO 1,2,3 & 7 Individual