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Overview

Course Prescription

Introduces students to the impact data representation has on public perception of global issues. Students will engage and experiment with computational methodologies to interpret, visualise and interact with data sources corresponding to a specific Sustainable Development Goal. Students will produce provocative data-driven visualisations that promote a call-to-action related to a foreseeable local or global crisis.

Course Overview

Data is one of the most pervasive materials shaping contemporary life, and computing technologies have dramatically evolved the possibilities for how data can be collected, interpreted and communicated. In the twenty-first century, data is a significant and contested resource that increasingly impacts people and the planet at every scale. Using data to foster positive change requires rigorous critical and creative thinking. As designers, this means attending to the historical, cultural, economic and sustainability issues surrounding the representation of data.

This course introduces data as a material for design, encompassing a broad spectrum of approaches for crafting digital, physical and interactive artefacts from data sources. Studio-based learning will focus on critical and ethical practices for transforming datasets into tangible, compelling design interventions intended for public display.

Students will explore technical and conceptual aspects of designing with data through a series of workshops and studio experiments. Drawing on insights and reflections from this body of experimental practice, students will iteratively develop provocative data-driven visualisations in response to a plausible future scenario.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 12.5 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of contact time during weekly studios. Studios typically include an introduction to technical concepts, guest lectures, project work, critique and an opportunity to solicit feedback from your tutors.

The remainder, 9.5 hours are comprised of 1.5 hours of preparatory reading and 8 hours of self-assessed study such as assignments, technical research and folio development.

Please note that evidence of student participation may be expected on a variety of online platforms and in environments beyond the Studio and Lab spaces. Such as Canvas, Discord, Zoom, Miro, and others. Students will be informed on Canvas with specific instructions.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite
Corequisite

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including studio sessions to receive credit for components of the course unless circumstances prevent it. In this scenario, students will be notified via Canvas of the next steps.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Guest lectures will be recorded and disseminated subject to the guest's approval. Other learning activities will not be available as recordings.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course will be delivered via a 3-hour studio session each week. Students will also have access to online resources that support and complement the concepts, activities, and outputs of this course. 

The studio sessions will typically have the following format:

  • Presentation: by academics, technical staff and industry guests on new concepts and best practice
  • Structured workshop: skills development in techniques for designing with data
  • Assignment orientated development: self-directed project sessions supported by teaching and technical staff
  • Q&A / feedback session: to advance student progress

Studio activities are designed to align with assessment tasks. Each week students will learn concepts and techniques to reflect and support the stages of project work required for each assessment submission.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

BYOD - students enrolled in a Bachelor of Design or Design conjoint degree should come to class with their own laptop and software. This is so students will have the core learning tools available in and outside of class. It also means students can increase their independence and have better control of a professional device to stimulate creativity and simplify their design process.

Working with a personal laptop during the Design degree will prepare students for the realities of working as a designer after graduation. The highly recommended, recommended, and minimum specifications for a laptop are listed here.

Prototyping materials and collateral: Due to the hands-on and bespoke nature of the projects students will develop as part of this course, they may require additional resources and collateral. This may include specialised materials, tooling, hardware, software or access to cloud services. Where possible the programme will supply these items to students at cost price through the Creative store, however, students also need to be prepared to source these items at their own expense.

Sketch pad and drawing materials: It is good practice to be able to quickly record ideas through writing and sketching, as well as collecting and pasting items found that are relevant or inspiring.

Online folio: Students will continue to develop their online folios and maintain them throughout their course.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

Students are given an overview of health, safety, and wellness policies and procedures during the first week of their first year. Concerns should first be addressed with a Course Director/Coordinator, technician, lecturer, or tutor. Further information and incident report forms are available on the University website.

Students must complete induction training before accessing the Design Lab to ensure safety and competence. Only authorised access is allowed, and students may not permit entry to visitors. Equipment use is restricted to those who have received proper training, and workspaces should be kept clean with tools properly stored and shut down after use. Eating, drinking anything other than bottled water, and inappropriate attire, such as open footwear, are not permitted, and personal protective equipment may be required.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Additional Information on Academic integrity

Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT and DALL.E 2, may only be used in assessments approved by the Course Director/Course Coordinator. Without permission, students must complete assessments independently, without substantial assistance from AI tools. In approved assessments, students must include a written statement detailing any tool’s use and the prompts applied.

Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

The grade of DNC (did not complete) is assigned a grade point value of zero and is used when a student fails to complete compulsory coursework despite earning over 50%, or when coursework is incomplete and a fail grade would misrepresent their achievement.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type12345

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Redevelop assignments; Include more short practical exercises.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Additonal Information on Special Circumstances

Where a student faces unavoidable personal circumstances (e.g. illness or a death in the family) that mean the student is unable to submit a component of coursework, they may apply for an extension. Requests for extensions of time must be submitted and approved using the online Extension of Time Application form available on Canvas.

Students should notify the Course Director/Course Coordinator of their situation as soon as practicable, and preferably before any due date. Notifications received after an assessment due date will be accepted, where this is reasonable, within the context of the course. If possible, students are encouraged to seek medical, counselling or other support from the most appropriate sources.

No extensions will be granted for problems such as accidentally erased computer files, which should always be prevented by keeping backup copies.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.