DG3S003 - Design Competitions 01 Sep 2023 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: DG3S003
Module Title: Design Competitions
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Games and Design
Faculty Sub Group: Design
Module Leader: Ryan Preece
Module Team: Stephen Leadbetter, Sarah Down, Emma Marshman, Rachel Grainger
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

Enables students to generate, complete and present original, innovative design work, to a nationally / internationally recognised professional standard.

Provide a platform whereby students can engage directly in the wider issues of the industrial design environment, through entry in Nationally Recognised Competitions facing social, economic, political, and cultural challenges.

Further students’ knowledge of the interrelated nature of organisations and professional bodies operating within the commercial design industry.

Content Summary

This module will encourage you to select a national or international design competition relative to your chosen career pathway or strategic professional development plan.

You will further learn how to apply your working knowledge of Design Project Management, Design Thinking, and research methodologies through the challenge of an external design competition, set by a recognisable and established stakeholder.

This module encourages ‘big thinking’ as you aim to provide solutions to some of the world’s biggest graduate-facing design challenges, framed in Local / National / International design competition briefs. The module encourages that, through research and creative practice, you explore and get to the core of the problem and to understand the needs of the people impacted by that issue.

You are encouraged to think about cultures (traditional, physical, digital) and design solutions for that specific audience with an understanding obtained through methodological insights, user and prototypical testing and professional attention to detail.

This module awards ‘risk-taking,’ and it is encouraged that you explore and work within other disciplines during this module or seek collaboration to enhance a professional awareness and practice. You must consider reconnecting to physical workshops, Digital tools, and open dialogue with a broad range of professionals to aid your journey towards your solution

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 4
Practical classes and workshops 6
Supervised time in studio/workshop 26
Independent Study 100
Directed Study 64
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Document the development of design process for storytelling: evaluate design research, apply design thinking and creative practice, describe and test ideas or concepts in relation to set challenges.
LO2 Present design solutions, compose, explain, and defend applied creativity and design thinking strategies in response to wider socio-economic, cultural, political, technological, or social challenges in relationship to audience values

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Presentation (Asynchronous) 1 Presentation of design outcomes: the description of process and defence of creative responses with justification. 0 N/A 30 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Creative Designs / Art 1 Visual Journal Documenting the Design Process, identifying creative responses and testing relatable solutions to set design challenges. 0 N/A 70 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Presentation (Asynchronous) 1
Creative Designs / Art 1

Reading List

Bierut, M. (2021) How to use graphic design to sell things, explain things, make things look better, make people laugh, make people cry, and (every once in a while) change the world. London: Thames & Hudson.

De bono, E. (2007) How to have creative ideas: 62 exercises to develop the mind. London: Vermilion.

Dowling, J. (2022) Big Type: Graphic Design and Identities with Typographic Emphasis. Bletchingley: Counter-Print.

Ingledew, J. (2011) The A-Z of Visual Ideas: How to solve any creative brief. London: Laurence King.

Ingledew, J. (2016) How to have great ideas: A guide to creative thinking. London: Laurence King.

McAlhone, B. and Stuart, D. and Quinton, G. and Asbury, N. (2015) A Smile in the Mind, Witty Thinking in Graphic Design. London: Phaidon Press Limited.

Müller-Brockmann, J. and Stephenson, D.Q. (2007) Grid Systems in Graphic Design – Raster Systeme für die Visuelle Gestaltung. 5th edn. Verlag Niggli AG.