DG3S002 - Design Futures 01 Sep 2023 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: DG3S002
Module Title: Design Futures
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Games and Design
Faculty Sub Group: Design
Module Leader: Stephen Leadbetter
Module Team: Sarah Down, Emma Marshman, Rachel Grainger, Ryan Preece
First Intended Intake: SEP 2023 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100061 - graphic design
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

To support critical reflection of academic performance, developed skills and portfolio

To encourage investigation into the creative industries and changing market requirements to further identify understand best practices for employability

To support the articulation of professional goals and evaluate methods for mapping and progression

To increase abilities to design and develop appropriate self-marketing material / media within chosen fields / specialisms.

To support the development of strategies for job-seeking within the Creative Industries.

Improve students’ general skills for professionalism and career management.

Content Summary

This module requires investigation and exploration of the creative industries (specifically aligned with your career pathway) to further your knowledge of the interrelated nature of agencies, organisations and professional bodies operating within the commercial design sector.

Your mission statement will require an investigation of commercially practicing agencies / specialists within, to inform your understanding of expectations for seeking employability.

The module requires the development of a self-directed and research-informed Professional Development Plan (PDP).

The PDP will support the identification of post-graduate opportunities that align with a learner’s own career aspirations.

The PDP will detail professional goals, and frame opportunities for progression, through a process of critical self-reflection-based workshops. You will be expected to ‘compare and contrast’ a current emerging professional profile to that of a research-informed expected professional profile.

This information will be utilised to develop and inform a strategic plan, that connects you to opportunities within the university and surrounding communities to further develop and prepare a confident and active approach towards progression. Objectives might take the form of the development of a specialism, the diversification of a portfolio; the refinement of past projects or recognising the importance for collaboration.

You will further employ their PDP to develop a professional brand identity and curate a professional portfolio that is relative to aims and objectives identified within planning documentation. The module additionally supports the development of digital profile through university careers services, to increase capabilities to undertake appropriate self-marketing strategies within chosen fields.

The Design Futures module requires a self-reflective critical mindset to develop self-directed strategies to underpin the remainder of the course curriculum, providing purpose to the selection of future projects and academic / extracurricular activities.

The module lecture programme provides workshops, activities, and assessments intending to support you in the articulation of their goals and to better prepare students for a purpose-driven final year of study. Activities, seminars, and symposiums will improve skills for career management and develop a commercial awareness, specifically towards current and emerging trends and changing market requirements aligned with employability.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 6
Seminar 6
Tutorial 16
Practical classes and workshops 8
Independent Study 100
Directed Study 64
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Produce a Professional Development Plan (PDP), preparing strategies for independent practice and identifying growth opportunities within the remaining curriculum timeline and post-graduate job seeking within the creative industries.
LO2 Compose self-marketing strategies and materials with the development of a professional brand and strategic portfolio

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Professional Development Planning (PDP) 1 Presentation of a Professional Development Plan, recognising opportunities for continued growth in professional practice, Identifying industry skills and requirements for employability 0 N/A 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio 1 A professionally branded strategic portfolio, in response to objectives and progression routes aligned with the PDP. 0 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Professional Development Planning (PDP) 1
Portfolio 1

Reading List

Barton, G. (2023). Don't Get a Job...Make a Job: London: Quercus Publishing.

Cleaver, P. (2019). What They Didn't Teach You in Design School. Lewes: Octopus Publishing Group

Leonard, N. (2016) Becoming a successful graphic designer. London, New York: Fairchild Books.

Shaughnessy, A (2010). How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul. London: Laurence King.

Soto, D. (2011). Know Your Onions: Graphic Design. Amsterdam: BIS Publishers.