TDN1002 · Design and the avant-garde

Overview

In this unit, you will explore the history of European Modernism and its influence on visual communication, industrial design, and spatial design, recognising key movements and their ideological, political, and cultural foundations. You will develop critical frameworks to analyse Modernist design works, examining the social, cultural, and historical factors shaping them, and will practise applying these insights to your discipline. By integrating perspectives from various design fields, you will form a holistic view of Modernism’s legacy and its impact on the social role of design. You will reflect on how design can shape societal values, recognising the designer's potential as a social actor and fostering an appreciation for understanding design within its historical and cultural contexts. This unit will encourage you to value the responsibility embedded in design work and to develop strategies for ongoing learning, historical analysis, and critical thinking, equipping you with skills for both your practice and lifelong learning in the field of design.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

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. Identify the socio-political and cultural contexts of major modernist movements and how they influenced design practices;
2. Use design principles to address real-world challenges for diverse audiences and contexts;
3. Combine design knowledge with insights from fields like technology, culture, and sociology for a broader impact;
4. Reflect on designers' social and ethical roles in shaping human experiences and values;
5. Appreciate design as a force for social change and commit to ethical, inclusive practices;
6. Create a research approach to explore design questions, fostering skills in self-directed learning.

Workload

12 hours per week including 3 contact hours plus 9 hours of independent study. In Summer Semester B, the workload includes 9 contact hours per week for 4 weeks.

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