COURSE CURRICULUM

Year one begins with Launch Week, an opportunity to familiarize yourself with your course staff, peers, and the School community. The unit Design 01 – Sketch and Build introduces core skills in concept development through sketching, model making, and other design practices. You’ll also engage in Design for Equity 01, exploring technological principles and societal challenges, focusing on social justice, equitable design, and the climate crisis. In Briefs and Positions 01, you’ll prepare briefing materials for a small-scale design proposal, combining creative speculation with professional research. Opportunity Week offers hands-on activities with external partners. Iterate and Adapt 01 explores design processes like spatial analysis, documentation, and material analysis, enhancing skills in sketching and 3D surveys. Critical Analysis 01 challenges you to consider the interconnectedness of design with its broader context, while Material and Digital Practices builds your competence in both physical and virtual design representation. ATOM Activities offer interdisciplinary learning experiences.In Year two, Launch Week sets the stage for the year ahead. Design 03 – Fabricate and Form refines your skills in sketching and model making, with an emphasis on digital representation and material constraints. Design for Equity 02 expands on your knowledge, focusing on culturally diverse contexts and low-carbon design practices. Briefs and Positions 02 prepares you for a medium-scale design proposal, incorporating creative speculation, site analysis, and critical research. Opportunity Week again involves intensive work with external partners. Context and Constraint encourages you to explore transformation and unknown futures in design, while Pathways and Mentors helps you reflect on your skills and career path through structured mentoring. Critical Analysis 02 delves deeper into theory, asking you to interrogate design ideas and worldviews. ATOM Activities continue, allowing you to explore interdisciplinary topics.Year three culminates with Launch Week, where you prepare for the final year. Design 05 – Pitch and Prototype pushes you to engage with new technologies and produce prototypes, enhancing your skills for the professional world. Critical Analysis 03 requires a self-directed research project on a subject of your choosing. In Briefs and Positions 03, you’ll prepare materials for your Final Major Project, considering larger spatial or material networks. Opportunity Week again focuses on collaboration with external partners. The Major Project is the pinnacle of your studies, where you develop a comprehensive design proposal, reflecting your understanding of contemporary design practice.