Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Independent Professional Practice for Furniture Designers
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
GRAP2387 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
320T Architecture & Urban Design |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2015, Sem 2 2017, Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019 |
GRAP2387 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
375T Vocational Design and Social Context |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2020, Sem 2 2021 |
GRAP2387 |
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
Recommended prior study - GRAP2382 and GRAP2383. Recommended co-requisite study GRAP2385.
Students are expected to have completed the specified study and may be directed to amend their enrolment if requirements are not met.
Assumed Knowledge: You should be able to document work in visual formats, produce 3D models and prototypes.
Course Description
Independent Professional Practice for Furniture Designers is focused on the skills and knowledge necessary to work as an independent or contract furniture designer in both local and international contexts.
The course involves knowledge and understanding of international markets and global trends, marketing techniques, branding, promotion and presentation, work opportunities, legal and business compliance, intellectual property, contractual arrangements and networks.
The course will involve personal research, interviews with leading furniture industry figures, reflection on industry partnership experiences and lectures on specific aspects of professional practice.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) of the AD007 Associate Degree in Design (Furniture Design):
4 Identify and combine principles and concepts in art and design, the craft of making, the technologies of creation and manufacturing together.
5 Evaluate your own work, ideas and concepts, including self, peer and industry critique.
8 Apply initiative and judgment 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 Identify and analyse furniture market opportunities either locally or internationally.
2 Identify major stakeholders.
3 Develop strategies to promote yourself as a furniture designer.
4 Understand the fundamental rules of legal and business requirements necessary to operate as a designer.
5 Develop a Career Action Plan, portfolio and marketing material.
6 Organise, prepare and execute an exhibition to promote work to public and industry.
Overview of Learning Activities
You will be engaged in learning that involves a range of activities such as: personal Career Action Plan investigation, concept design of own port folio and marketing material investigation and designing to suit own set market.
You will engage in career planning activities, portfolio development and presentation and the planning and staging of the graduation exhibition at the close of the academic year. The exact format and nature of the activities will be negotiated with individuals and the group as a collective where appropriate, at the commencement of the semester.
Overview of Learning Resources
Most of the study and its assessable outcomes will be learner directed and as such the you will be largely responsible for your own learning resources.
Some resources will be supplied for certain learning activities (specific readings etc) as the course unfolds.
It is seen as essential that you develops a level of confidence in gathering learning resources that are appropriate in a rigorous and well-managed manner.
More detailed briefs for the course will be distributed in class and be available online. As most of the work will be learner centred you will be guided in developing your semester work plan by the teaching staff in the first weeks of the course.
Guest speakers and guest workshops will be supported with notes and handouts, whilst these will be provided, you are expected to support your learning with own note taking in sessions. You will need to seek external resources to support own work and interests as they develop in the course, the teaching staff will provide references and can direct you to more specialist resources on request.
Student learning resources available include access to computer laboratories, relevant software and access to workshop equipment and facilities.
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.
Assessment 1 Career Action Plan including Designer's Manifesto 50%
Mapped to CLO 4 & 5 Individual
Assessment 2 Market analysis & Action Plan Strategies 20%
Mapped to CLO 1,2,3,5 & 6 Individual
Assessment 3 Visual representation of PR & Marketing Materials 20%
Mapped to CLO 1,2,3,5 & 6 Individual
Assessment 4 Peer Assessment of the organisation of EOY Show 10%
Mapped to CLO 6 Group