DGR-601 GRADUATE COMMUNICATION

Strong English language skills are essential for,success at CCS and in a future career as an,international designer. In this course, students,will develop and improve English communication,skills. Using a wide range of tools and,assignments, students will talk and write about,design with focus on planning and organization,,visual aids, audience, appropriate vocabulary,,revising based on feedback, and presenting before,a group. The skills acquired in this course will,enable students to produce a presentation on,design research conducted throughout the semester.

Credits: 1

Prerequisites:

DGR-613 GRADUATE SEMINAR

The Graduate Seminar course brings together the,full cohort of CCS graduate design students to,discuss and debate key contextual issues in and,around design, and advance critical thinking,skills. Students explore how engagement with key,contextual themes informs and enriches the design,process and design leadership. Students attend,lectures and seminars and undertake visits to key,exhibitions, galleries and/or public talks.,Graduate Seminar serves to advance both critical,inquiry and critical writing skills of students,,and enable the cross-referencing of theory to,practice. Weekly classes are led by debates in,areas including climate change, economics, social,justice, globalization and emerging technology.,This course involves extensive reading, research,,group presentations, short written assignments and,one longer written assignment.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

DGR-620 GRADUATE RESEARCH METHODS

The Graduate Research Methods course equips,students with the knowledge and skills required to,undertake a range of advanced research methods,appropriate to practice and critical inquiry in,art and design. The course covers primary research,methods, including design ethnography, field,research, case studies, interviews, reflective,practice, and practice-based methods. The,knowledge acquired throughout the course will,support students in the formulation of,sophisticated, reflective and fully reference,proposals for research-led creative practice, and,a rigorously informed critical discourse.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: DGR 613 GRADUATE SEMINAR

DGR-631 WRITTEN THESIS

The Written Thesis is a self-directed,,academically rigorous and fully referenced,8,000-10,000 word document providing a critical,appraisal of primary and secondary research,sources, and theoretical discussion and debate on,the over-arching context of the Final Project. It,runs concurrently with the Final Project 1 course,in semester 1.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: DGR 613 DGR 620

DGR-635 DESIGN THINKING

Students learn to use Design Thinking as a,cross-disciplinary method for problem solving. ,Design Thinking is characterized by a non-linear,,creative, playful, and collaborative approach for,generating and testing ideas through rapid,ideation and prototyping. Students learn to,challenge assumptions, take risks, and adopt,unconventional perspectives in the process of,problem solving. The class teaches students to,take a human-centered approach, led by user,empathy to (re)define problems, generate ideas,,prototype, model, and test concepts and ideas for,new products, services, processes, and strategies.,Students do not need any formal design training to,take this course, but will be required to,visualize, map, enact, and document thinking and,ideas in collaborative spaces.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

DGR-640 MINOR PROJECT

“On average, it takes a (design) graduate two,years to get their first job, but 76% of Student,Award winners walk into a job or placement within,3 months.” The minor project is an opportunity,for students to diversify their portfolios and,broaden career opportunities with a project(s),taken from national and international student,design competitions. By working on briefs set,outside of the college, students can widen their,scope for employment and evidence successful,team-working on their resume and in portfolios.,It enables students to assess their professional,skills, redefine ideas and strategies for art,,media and design and provide quickly visualized,outcomes in response to creative briefs.,Students are encouraged to take risks, but also,work to their strengths. However, while there is,a range of project briefs to choose from, students,are cautioned not to venture into creative,disciplines that are beyond their skillset.,Students are required to work in teams of two or,three, and interdisciplinary groups drawn from,across programs and year groups* are strongly,encouraged.,*NOTE: The course is also offered as an elective.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

DGR-644 RAPID PROTOTYPING: PLA-Y

In this course, students will acquire a working,knowledge of the main 3D printing methods using a,range of basic equipment and PLA Filament. ,Turning ideas into objects and swatches, students,will become familiar with the software and related,tools that are used for prototyping with 3D,printers. Students will explore producing their,own 3D filament, with a focus on creating,sustainable and environmentally friendly material,options.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

DGR-650 FINAL PROJECT

This course is a self-directed project that forms,the capstone of the MA degree. Students will,critically situate the project in a specific,context and it will be informed by robust,contextualization. Students will develop a body,of well-documented iteractive Ideation, leading to,thematically relevant creative outcomes evidencing,practical impact and/or a critical provocation.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: DGR 613

DGR-685 SPECIAL PROJECT

The Special Project course is offered on an,occasional basis, with course content specific to,the area being explored.,, WINTER 2024,BIODESIGN CHALLENGE,
,This course will introduce graduate students to,the ideas of working with biomaterials in the,context of their properties and aesthetics with a,focus on developing ideas that offer new ways of,using materials for solving larger problems.,Through engagement, collaboration, and,experimentation, classroom discussions will look,at the ethics and human impact of materials from,sourcing, manufacturing, and transporting to the,end user. Sustainability, environmental impact,,and life cycle will be recurring themes during the,idea development process.,Open to Graduate and Undergraduate Junior and,Seniors.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: