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UnitLevel 4Postgraduate

MDC4550 Design technologies and processes

Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture

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MDC4550 Design technologies and processes is a level 4, 12-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, offered in 2021 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Caulfield. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 7 units, leading on to 14 units in all.

Credit points
12
Offered in 2021
Semester 1, Semester 2
Caulfield
Assessment
No exam
6 tasks

This is the 2021 handbook entry. See the 2024 entry.

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Requisites

Before MDC4550

Corequisites

Pass these before, or take them in the same semester.

All of

Prohibitions

You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.

One of

After MDC4550

7 units list MDC4550 as a prerequisite or corequisite.

Enrolment rules

Prerequisite: Enrolment in Master of Design (by coursework)

Overview

This unit introduces you to the relevant technical processes that will be drawn upon in subsequent and concurrent studio units within the Master of Design. It includes digital and physical fabrication for design outcomes relative to the nominated studio specialisations of Interaction Design, Multimedia Design and Collaborative Design. The unit focuses on the technical and practical capabilities required for the creation of design prototypes. You will be introduced to the interdisciplinary nature of design technologies and equipped with fundamental design skills and methods through project work and a series of hands-on exercises. You will develop a repertoire of knowledge through the exploration of the concepts, methodology and vocabulary for production, publishing, presentation and prototyping techniques relative to your studio specialisation.

Offerings in 2021

Teaching periodCampusMode
First semesterCaulfieldBlock on
Second semesterCaulfieldBlock on

Assessment

  • Project A.1: Folklore
    15%
  • Project A.2: Animate 3D Kids' Playset
    20%
  • Project A.3: Animated Bus Shelter
    15%
  • Project B.1: Era Type Poster
    10%
  • Project B.2: Futurephone Brochure
    20%
  • Project B.3: Rainbow Serpent Festival Brand Identity
    20%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Critically reflect on the historical contexts and development of various technologies from technological, socio-cultural and design practice perspectives;

  2. 2

    Demonstrate fundamental design technology skills to create, capture, manipulate and edit images, shape and form;

  3. 3

    Use fundamental design and technology skills to communicate ideas;

  4. 4

    Integrate a range of design skill sets and technologies as a process to produce, publish or fabricate prototypes;

  5. 5

    Analyse and evaluate processes and technologies used in design creation and production;

  6. 6

    Present and visualise design concepts;

  7. 7

    Understand and apply the rules of occupational health and safety appropriate to the discipline practice.

Workload and teaching

  • Studio activities96 hours
  • Teaching approachResearch activities
  • Teaching approachProblem-based learning
  • Teaching approachIndustry-based learning
  • Teaching approachActive learning

24 hours per week including 8 contact hours plus 16 hours of independent study.

Learning resources

Required resources

Basics Interactive Design: Interface Design: An Introduction to Visual Communication in UI Design’, David Wood (2014)

https://uimovement.com/

Graphic Design, Referenced: A Visual Guide to the Language, Applications, and History of Graphic Design’, Bryony Gomez-Palacio (2011)

http://thedsgnblog.com/ (featuring ‘blogroll’: a listing of further good design blogs)

Geometry of Design (2nd Ed) : Studies in Proportion & Composition', Kimberly Elam (2011)

Digital Image Processing' (4th Ed.), Rafael C. Gonzalez & Richard E. Woods (2018)

Vector Basic Training: A Systematic Creative Process for Building Precision Vector Artwork (Voices That Matter)’, Von R. Glitschka (2011)

https://www.behance.net/ (search focused)

http://www.baubauhaus.com/

https://learnui.design/blog/

http://ilovetypography.com/

Type On Screen', Ellen Lupton (2014)

Designing Brand Identity: An Essential Guide for the Entire Branding Team’ (5th Ed.), Alina Wheeler (2018)

Adobe Illustrator CC Classroom in a Book (2019)’, Adobe Creative Team (2018)

Visual Alchemy: The Fine Art of Digital Montage’, Catherine McIntyre (2013)

Typography Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Using Type in Graphic Design’, Timothy Samara (2006)

Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students (2nd Ed.)’, Ellen Lupton, (2010)

http://www.typetoken.net/

UI UX Design', Xia Jiajia (2017)

Design Elements : Understanding the Rules & Knowing When to Break Them’, Timothy Samara (2014)

Color Image Scale’, Shigenobu Kobayashi (1992)

Newest versions of Adobe Illustrator CC, Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe InDesign CC & Adobe Acrobat: For semester 2, 2019 Monash computers have Adobe Creative Suited CC (2019 Release). Students who are already using CC (2015), CS6 or earlier versions on their personal computers should note that CC files created on Monash computers may not open in earlier versions of the software.

Technology resources

Mac compatible peripheral devices: either a USB sticks (min. 32gb capacity) or (preferably) 1 external hard drive (1TB+). It is crucial these peripheral devices are formatted for either Mac only use (Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format) or Mac AND PC use (FAT(32) format). Remember to ALWAYS safely eject all peripheral devices from all computers (both PC & Mac) before unplugging from USB or Firewire ports.

Online File Storage and Synchronization Service Account

Contacts

Unit Coordinators
Mr Giosue Prochilo
Mr Samuel Berkoh
Chief Examiners
Mr Jeffrey Janet

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for MDC4550?

None, but you must take MDC4500 and ADA4500 before or alongside it.

What can I take after MDC4550?

MDC4550 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 7 units, including DIS4201, DIS4604, MDC4110, MDC4120, MDC4500 and VCM4029. Those lead on to 14 units in all.

When is MDC4550 offered?

In 2021, MDC4550 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Caulfield.

Does MDC4550 have an exam?

No. MDC4550 has 6 assessment tasks and no exam.

More details

Credit points
12
Level
4
Study level
Postgraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture
Organisational unit
Department of Design
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.250
Student contribution
SCA Band 2
Study abroad
Not available
Handbook years
20202021202220232024