Professional Core Courses
Critical Reflections
LICA 200 will explore a number of key interdisciplinary philosophical and cultural concepts that will enable you to analyse, engage with, and reflect upon artworks in your own discipline, and to thus establish a common set of concepts that can be shared by digital media students in LUC@BJTU.
For LUC@BJTU students, this course will sit alongside a module in your particular discipline as a general introduction to study of the art theory, especially in the postmodern context. It will emphasise the shared languages and concepts of aesthetics that can be applied to any and all of the arts.
Design Interactions
This module provides the initial theoretical perspectives for the new BA Degree in Design Interactions. More specifically this module introduces general framework and approaches for designing interactive products and systems applicable to a wide variety of scenarios.
The module introduces range of topics related to designing interactions will be explored through a series of lectures and then supported through practical seminars intended to cement the theory.
Students will be assessed in relation to the specific learning outcomes for this module.
The module will be assessed by: 15-minute audio-visual presentation (25%) and a 4000-word end of module essay (75%).
Advanced Design Interactions
This module provides the advanced theoretical perspectives for the new BA Degree in Design. This module builds upon the general framework for designing interactive products and systems introduced in the second year module LICA 240 and examines how they can be applied in more specialised design areas such as Urban, Sustainable, Emerging Technology, Service, Collaborative Tools, Virtual Environments, Facilitation, Citizen-Led Design. The course will draw directly from the research expertise of Imagination so that students are exposed to cutting edge concepts in these fields.
The module introduces range of topics related to designing interactions will be explored through a series of lectures and then supported through practical seminars intended to cement the theory.
Students will be assessed in relation to the specific learning outcomes for this module.
Design Research Consultancy
The submitted coursework represents high quality assignments that fully meet the assessment criteria of the module. They are clear and coherent in their presentation of the work, its aims and objectives.
The coursework assignments demonstrate a range of abilities, reflecting the different strengths and weaknesses of the students. They evidence a range of abilities though the coursework is generally of a high standard across the cohort. The coursework has been marked with parity and transparency in a manner that is consistent with the marking scheme.
The spread of marks is coherent with the coursework submitted. It is typically of a high standard reflecting the ability of the students on the cohort. All students have passed this module which is expected and consistent with the module.
This is an excellent, creative module which enables students to demonstrate a number of design research skills and connect them to real world issues. It is clear from the quality of the work submitted that the students have benefited from a very good guidance in order to be able to develop their own projects successfully
Innovation and Design
The course is well structured and progressive well balanced with a clear set of submission guides. However, essay format assessment tasks should be evaluated long term for the viability of the course.
There is a good range of essays and topics chosen with location specific responses and reflections. Essay referencing and essay structures in the sample are good in some cases.
The spread is sufficient.
Students should have master’s level support for English to complete modules with essay tasks. This has been raised in the academic committee.
Graphic Programming Design
1. Understand the basic concepts and working principles of computer language;
2. Understand the conversion laws from creative thinking to logical thinking;
3. Through case study and practical creation, master the techniques used for dynamic graphics expression in computer language;
4. Learn to understand the computer language expression principle; through human-computer interaction made possible by graphical forms, master computer-aided graphics design skills.
Design Management
Design Management refers to a broad range of theories, methods and practices by which an organisation can employ design principles, activities and methods for internal or external purposes.This module introduces past, present, and emerging practices, methods and principles of design management. It explores design management in the context of leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and organisational change as it relates to issues of marketing. This is a core module for the BSc (Hons) Marketing and Design course, and will be made available to other students in LICA and across the university as appropriate
Other professional courses
Introduction to Design
Introduction to Design provides a broad grounding in design as a discipline and activity. It assumes no prior knowledge of design and explores the role of design in historical and contemporary contexts.
It provides students with the ability to understand the various roles that design plays in societal and cultural contexts and gives some practical experience in aspects of the design process and creative practice with the aim of better understanding of: designers, design, innovation and the creative process.
At the end of the course you will be able to identify the characteristics of design thinking and how it is different from other types of thinking. You will also have an awareness of how design thinking can be applied in a wide range of contexts from the personal to the global. On a more practical level you will learn how to investigate and think creatively about design problems and opportunities, integrate different styles of thinking in a design process, and explore, evaluate and critique the design of others.
Modernism in Design
The course will look at the history and theory of philosophy, design, and the arts from the mid-eighteen century to mid- twentieth. Lectures will follow two coordinated strands, one chronological and the other thematic.
The chronological strand will begin from the late 1780s, and will examine key developments in design and the arts, and their relationship with culture and thought, as well as with the social and political context. While each class will focus on one of three thematic strands (art, design, philosophy), the connections across the strands will be discussed. To do so, the course will be visually mapped on a timeline that will be hanged on the wall of the classroom. Relevant events, artifacts, artworks, and quotes will be mapped on the timeline, along with notes and connections. Students will be encouraged to actively contribute to the timeline and use it as a tool for study and discussion.
Autumn Term will cover the period 1789-1950s, and Lent Term 1950s to now, and will focus on the issues associated with the rise and development of Modernism and Postmodernism.
Design Interactions Studio (Materials)
These themed studios aim to extend to supplement the theoretical courses in Design Interactions and Design Visualisation by considering how a specific problem may be considered through a particular lens that introduces certain practical constraints. The studios will build from developing practical skills and evaluating issues within the themes to the application these practical understandings alongside their theoretical understandings to a specific problem.
This module explores how an understanding of materials and technology informs (constrains, influences) the development of design artefacts.
Note 1. The module is based around and two interactive sessions the first is in the morning to kick-off that day’s activities while the second is reflect on the materials/processes used during the day with the tutors. In between these two sessions
you are expected to use the design studio facilities to explore that particular week’s activity.
Note 2. The initial activities for module is based on the expectation that you can use your own laptop, or work together with partners, to move between workshop and equipment easily. Whilst it can be done using University machines it will be a lot more involved. Note we are using free software packages that support both PC and Mac so this should present any hurdles and the tutors will be there to provide assistance.
Design Interactions Studio (Contexts)
This themed studio aims to extend and supplement the theoretical modules in BA Design by considering how a specific problem may be considered through a particular lens that introduces certain practical constraints: in this case, the context.
The studio will build from developing practical skills and evaluating issues within the themes to the application of these practical understandings alongside their theoretical underpinnings to a specific problem.
‘Design does not just create new objects and artefacts, they attempt to change existing situations into preferred ones (Herbert Simon, 1969, p. 129).
The Design Studio (Contexts) engages in contemporary issues (e.g., ecological sustainability, health and wellbeing) or ‘wicked problems’ through the exploration of a specific context – space, place or practice.
It is a critical understanding of the problem context that enables appropriate design solutions to be developed.
Design Interactions Studio (People)
These themed studios aim to extend to supplement the theoretical courses in Design Interactions and Design Thinking by considering how a specific situation may be explored through a particular lens that introduces certain practical constraints.
The studios will build from developing practical skills and evaluating issues within the themes to the application these practical understandings alongside their theoretical understandings to a specific problem.
This module explores how an understanding of materials and technology informs (constrains, influences) the development of design artefacts.
Note 1. The module is based around and two interactive sessions: the first is in the morning to kick-off that days activities while the second is for reflecting on the materials/processes used during the day with the tutors. In between these two sessions you are expected to use the design studio facilities independently to explore that particular week’s activity.
Note 2. The initial activities for module are based on the expectation that you can use your own laptop, or work together with a partner, to move between workshop and equipment easily. You are encouraged to use the software packages you learnt in other modules (e.g. Fundamentals of Computer; Audio-Visual Language; Photography; Graphic Design; Graphic Programming Design; Design Interaction Studio - Things), as well as any other software you are familiar and comfortable with. We will also recommend free software packages that support both PC and Mac. The tutors will be there to provide assistance.
The main contents of this course include: the basic principles of information security, international standards of information security, the basic concept of the virus. Traditional viruses, worms, web script virus, Trojan, anti-virus technology, vulnerability detection, buffer overflow attacks, password attacks, network monitoring, address spoofing, denial of service attacks, botnets and e-mail system security, modern cryptography jargon, cryptanalysis, symmetric ciphers algorithm, public key algorithms, cryptographic communication protocols, digital signatures and digital certificates, message digests, one-way hash function and message authentication codes, digital stamp, Web sites, SSL configuration.
Fundamentals of Computer for Design Majors
This course is a basic course of computer for digital media design. Its goal is to cultivate and train students' digital media design ability, and to enable students to understand and master basic computer knowledge and application technology. The main contents of this course include basic computer knowledge, concepts and application technologies of digital image, computer modeling, animation design, and digital media design methods and application technologies. The main task of this course is to cultivate students' innovative consciousness, ability and the application ability of computer knowledge through classroom teaching, experimental teaching and project researches, so that students can master the basic knowledge and basic technology of computer design. They are expected to have skills and ability of digital media design, which can support the corresponding index points in the graduation requirements.
Design Visualisation
The module explores the ways in which designers use visualisation and visual thinking in design projects to develop ideas,explore possible interventions and communicate possible futures. The module introduces students to a range of tools forcreating visualisations, challenging participants to put these tools to work in exploring a range of contemporary design issues. The module is divided broadly into two parts, the first is dedicated to exploring a range of 2-dimensional approaches to communicating design ideas, drawing on theory and techniques from graphic design and information design. The second part of the module introduces further visualisation tools appropriate for representing 3-dimensional objects and spaces, and for developing data-driven and dynamic visualisations. The module is delivered via lectures and workshops, the latter divided between session held computer laboratories and design studios. Through the module students will develop a practical understanding of visualisation tools, exploring applying these tools to exploring contemporary design issues and communicating new design concepts.
Design Basis
Digital media design basic course is a professional digital media art students after one of the professional basic course, also is the backbone of the professional course. For students just begin to accept higher education, to form the active, independent learning and research, innovation, learning method is very important. According to the characteristics of the professional art itself, when teachers teach students according to their aptitude, targeted guidance in light of the characteristics of each of the students, found that students' potential fully, developing students' creative potential; At the same time, the contemporary art experimental, frontier of innovative thinking and the combination of modern and contemporary form of digital media technology, into the teaching process, students gradually familiar with digital media creation, on the basis of skills and methods, take the initiative to find the beauty of life, open ideas, cause the student to philosophy, biology, sociology, psychology and other disciplines of thinking, to cultivate students the interdisciplinary way of thinking, so as to guide students to create art work has certain social significance.
Aiming at the ideological and political education of the curriculum, starting from the curriculum teaching, train students to establish socialist core values. Deeply excavate and refine the ideological value and spiritual connotation of Chinese culture in the transformation of digital media art design and communication, and cultivate students' cultural self-confidence, design self-confidence and practical ability to solve problems.
UI Design
1.Students can identify user interface design as a fundamental component of interaction design as well as HCI, and is a necessary part of product design and development for all types of products such as APP design, website development, AR/VR design, etc.
2.Students can clarify the design and development process and the content and methods of natural user interface design(NUI).
3. Students need be able to examine target users and groups and construct user interface interaction logic based on any information cues or user intentions.
4. Students can have the ability of emotional design
5. Students can design a complete set of conceptual NUI .
Design Information Collection
The task of this course is to enable students to understand and master the methods and ability to collect the required information for different objects and problems in specific design projects, so that students can initially establish the integrated logic and research ability of problem analysis.
