CD7002 - Challenging Boundaries

This module will support the research and development of your chosen area of enquiry through 3 parallel stands that builds on what you have learnt in Semester 1.

Context
This component continues to support the development of your critical and cultural context. Following a similar format to Semester 1, you will be exposed to a series of thought-provocative lectures and seminars that address advances in emerging communication design practices. Examples of content may include: sustainability, artificial intelligence, user-experience design and service design.

Methods
You will be introduced to a series of relevant and current research topics in Communication Design through a series of lectures and seminars. You will be asked to expand on and build on your chosen subject focus through a critical contextual review of literature. This strand enables you to develop critical ways and processes of thinking by encouraging you to employ appropriate inquiry methods to collect, analyse and synthesise data in order to generate new understanding. We will support your development in workshops on how to search, analyse and synthesis information to help you derive insights from primary data.

Practice
You will continue to expand and advance your practice by undertaking a number of collaborative, live or competition briefs, allowing you to creatively engage with issues relating to the designer’s widening role in society, culture and technology. Importantly, on these projects your work as a designer will not end with a proposed solutions but will take a step further to include their evaluation.

In parallel, you will continue developing and refining your personal project proposal supported by peer group seminars and one-to-one tutorials with tutors. Your self-initiated project must be framed in a specific context through a research question, supported by advanced research and demonstrates an explicit engagement with the community that it is aimed at. You will be working on exploring, expanding and defining your issue-based project brief, and developing a project to prototype stage as proof of concept.

The programme leader, the module tutors and your project advisor all play a role in guiding you throughout the programme.

You will be supported through online and live in-class support-sessions by tutors with relevant expertise in communication design or related subject and are either experienced practitioners, researchers or practitioner-researchers. Further academic support is provided via e-Learning tools, such as online discussion groups, blogs and wikis. Additional contact with tutors may be available during office hours by arrangement.

Additional support is provided through the English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) module where English is not your first language.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
• LO1) Identify and pursue a personal design research interest, express it in various forms and communicate it to others.
• LO2) Contextualise a chosen topic of enquiry by undertaking an in-depth, wide-ranging and relevant literature review.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• LO3) Analyse and evaluate design concepts or solutions using contemporary design research methods.
• LO4) Create original or well-conceived ideas, concepts, design proposals in response to set problems or issues
• LO5) Demonstrate new or enhanced design skills when realising innovative design propositions.
• LO6) Demonstrate both independent and collaborative working practices required for personal and professional development through planning, communication, negotiation and project management skills.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

• LO7) Synthesise the learning gained from collaboration through a high level of critical self-reflection that contributes to personal and professional development.
• LO8) Communicate an awareness, understanding and engagement with ethical, responsible and social design issues.

This module will be 100% summatively assessed at the end of the module through a single portfolio submission. Where possible, it will be digital submission through the Elearning Portal.

You are required to submit a range of outputs that will evidence your learning against the learning outcomes. These outputs may include:

1. A 1500-word literature review of your chosen subject area.
2. A Final Major Project proposal plan and presentation.
3. Research Ethics submission and approval
4. An annotated portfolio and press kit of visual evidence documenting the process and outcomes of the practical briefs. Approximately 60 pages or equivalent subject to negotiation with the module tutor.
5. A 1500 words critical evaluation of portfolio and reflection on learning.

You will receive feedback in one to one and/or group tutorial sessions, and at interim and final presentations. Formative assessment will be provided through tutorials or formal presentations. Summative assessment will be written, giving a marks breakdown of how the submission met the five individual learning outcomes.

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This module gives you the opportunity to continue your development and advancement of your practice through a combination of live collaborative briefs and a personal self-initiated brief. You are expected to challenge existing practices and the ‘status quo’ and develop a unique approach to your chosen subject area. The team-based collaborative briefs will develop key competencies such as collaboration, communication and the core critical skills that are fundamental and increasingly sought after within the creative marketplace. Building on your work in Semester 1, you will explore and develop challenging responses to your identified subject of study that demonstrates a critical but creative response to your specified area of inquiry You will research your chosen area of study, resulting in a Contextual Review and a Final Major Project proposal at the end of Semester 2.