DGN5204 Design for social impact
Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture
DGN5204 Design for social impact is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Caulfield. It needs MDC4120, MDC4110, MDC4502 or MDC4130.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Caulfield
- Assessment
- No exam
- 3 tasks
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before DGN5204
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
Corequisites
Pass these before, or take them in the same semester.
After DGN5204
No unit lists DGN5204 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisite, or approval from Chief Examiner.
Overview
In this unit you will collaborate with organisations in the public sphere on applied design projects. Using design skills, processes and technologies you will be challenged to prototype, visualise and present innovative design solutions that impact positively on society. You will understand the value of co-creation and partnership as being vital to the outcome of design activities that instigate social change. The interdisciplinary and holistic approach of this unit includes, but is not limited to, spatial design, digital media design, interaction design, communication design, service and product design.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Caulfield | On campus |
Assessment
- Project 1Project20%
- Project 2Project30%
- FolioProject50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Evaluate and communicate the potential of design as an agent for social change;
- 2
Propose and present ethical and responsible design concepts;
- 3
Understand the significance of collaboration as part of inter-disciplinary teamwork in co-creating complex design solutions for social enterprise or innovation;
- 4
Demonstrate ethnographic research approaches as part of the design process for social enterprise or innovation;
- 5
Demonstrate skills for visualising and prototyping complex design solutions in the area of social design;
- 6
Critically analyse and evaluate the social impact of design solutions.
Workload and teaching
- Studio activities36 hours
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
12 hours per week including 3 contact hours plus 9 hours of independent study.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Vincent Dziekan
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Vincent Dziekan
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for DGN5204?
You need MDC4120, MDC4110, MDC4502 or MDC4130 before you enrol; and OHS1000 before or alongside it. Enrolment rules also apply.
When is DGN5204 offered?
In 2026, DGN5204 runs in Semester 1 at Caulfield.
Does DGN5204 have an exam?
No. DGN5204 has 3 assessment tasks and no exam.