222454

Visual Communication Design Research Project

Application of research to the development and production of an approved independent visual communication design project.

Course code

Qualifications are made up of courses. Some universities call these papers. Each course is numbered using six digits.

222454

Level

The fourth number of the course code shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).

400-level

Credits

Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.

45

Subject

Visual Communication Design

Course planning information

Course notes

222454 Design Research Project is the capstone project for Visual Communication Design. It is colloquially known as Responsive Studio, because you will respond to a design brief that you have developed yourself; your kaupapa (topic, theme, proposition); and your design process. Likewise, staff will also ‘respond’ to your mahi — to your questions, experiments, investigations, prototypes and provocations.

The studio will include talks, critiques, workshops, group sessions and individual sessions. The aim of the course is to develop the research undertaken in 222453 through to the production of a ‘considered design response’ that you will present to a panel at the end of the course.

You can opt to work in a group if you want to. Staff will guide you, but the topic area and mode of response are yours to define. That might mean responding to a problem or need for a specific audience through a human centred design process, or you might take a more exploratory approach through a process of documentation, authorship, curatorship, or speculative/critical design.

This course gives you the space to explore your design practice as a graphic designer; illustrator; interaction designer; motion designer; typographer; digital, UX, or motion designer; service and experience designer, and beyond.

Prerequisite courses

Complete first

You need to complete the above course or courses before moving onto this one.

Learning outcomes

What you will learn. Knowledge, skills and attitudes you’ll be able to show as a result of successfully finishing this course.

  • 1 Demonstrate an ability to shape the relationship between creative work and audiences, clients, markets, users, consumers, participants and/or citizens. [Graduate Profile: Connectedness - Whanaungatanga A1]
  • 2 Initiate and contribute to innovative developments in creative practice and research. [Graduate Profile: Creativity - Toi C3]
  • 3 Combine technical excellence with intellectual and conceptual rigour and research in order to produce high quality creative outputs. [Graduate Profile: Virtuosity - Mohio D2]
  • 4 Demonstrate strong, persuasive visual and verbal communication skills. [Graduate Profile: Connectedness - Whanaungatanga E1]
  • 5 Think and work independently and collaboratively, making autonomous decisions, managing workload and deadlines. [Graduate Profile: Autonomy - Mana E3]

Learning outcomes can change before the start of the semester you are studying the course in.

Assessments

Assessment Learning outcomes assessed Weighting
Creative compositions 1 2 3 4 5 100%

Assessment weightings can change up to the start of the semester the course is delivered in.

You may need to take more assessments depending on where, how, and when you choose to take this course.

Explanation of assessment types

Computer programmes
Computer animation and screening, design, programming, models and other computer work.
Creative compositions
Animations, films, models, textiles, websites, and other compositions.
Exam College or GRS-based (not centrally scheduled)
An exam scheduled by a college or the Graduate Research School (GRS). The exam could be online, oral, field, practical skills, written exams or another format.
Exam (centrally scheduled)
An exam scheduled by Assessment Services (centrally) – you’ll usually be told when and where the exam is through the student portal.
Oral or performance or presentation
Debates, demonstrations, exhibitions, interviews, oral proposals, role play, speech and other performances or presentations.
Participation
You may be assessed on your participation in activities such as online fora, laboratories, debates, tutorials, exercises, seminars, and so on.
Portfolio
Creative, learning, online, narrative, photographic, written, and other portfolios.
Practical or placement
Field trips, field work, placements, seminars, workshops, voluntary work, and other activities.
Simulation
Technology-based or experience-based simulations.
Test
Laboratory, online, multi-choice, short answer, spoken, and other tests – arranged by the school.
Written assignment
Essays, group or individual projects, proposals, reports, reviews, writing exercises, and other written assignments.

Textbooks needed

There are no set texts for this course.