DGN2523 · Creative prototyping: Connected objects

Overview

This unit builds on Creative prototyping: Interactivity (DGN2522) by introducing you to the world of designing digitally connected objects with the help of wireless and advanced prototyping technologies, and expands on the foundational learning of electronic, physical and interactive prototyping. You are encouraged to discover innovative and creative applications for the Internet of Things (IoT), thinking about the potential for digitally imbued devices or environments that can resolve, improve or enhance society. You will also be introduced to the theories of media and communication and get to discuss and understand the opportunities and pitfalls of the increasingly connected and digitally integrated world. By engaging in weekly hands-on workshop activities, you will build your design skills through experimental practice and critical reflection of how communication technologies transform our everyday lives. Specifically, you will get to participate in advanced electronic design and prototyping methods, including basic circuit board fabrication, the integration of miniaturised electronic designs into forms, and the exploration of flexible circuit design and materials in your learning journey. There is a pre-requisite of understanding how to work with microcontrollers, general electronic sensing and actuation. A moderate level of experience engaging with the Arduino platform or similar coding environments is also required.

Offerings

The Handbook publishes no offerings for this unit.

Assessment

The Handbook publishes no assessment items for this unit yet.

100% in-semester assessment

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Discuss the opportunities and challenges of designing digitally connected experiences by considering their impact through objects, surfaces and/or environments;
2. Conceptualise, design and prototype interactions that clearly demonstrate a sensitivity towards bridging physical and digital experiences;
3. Prototype connected, physical objects by combining fabrication, microcontrollers, electronic sensors and expression components;
4. Design and fabricate simple, miniaturised custom circuit boards, including rigid and flexible variants, to support a design-centric form exploration;
5. Understand how wireless technologies function, leveraging digital data protocols and web services to experiment with the server-side aspects of a digitally connected device;
6. Informed by regular weekly updates, produce a design journal that uniquely balances a creative-driven, transdisciplinary account of your ideation and prototype development through design research, ideation, fabrication and electronic circuit design.

Workload

12 hours per week including 3 contact hours plus 9 hours of independent study.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.