Viewfinders: Visual Design Research & Storytelling module (DJ22019)

Understanding the people and contexts that we are designing for is always a central part of an effective digital design process.

You will learn to sensitively observe and record people and places, to use tools to make sense of what is found, tell engaging stories and communicate those stories with colleagues, stakeholders and publics.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• develop designerly ways of engaging with people and contexts
• explore and deploy research methods
• record observations and outcomes using appropriate media (photography, film, audio, writing)
• use sense-making techniques to find themes, ideas and stories
• edit material into coherent research outcomes (film, zine, audio)

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• collect visual material about people to help inspire your design process
• develop the material you have collected into engaging stories
• exhibit outcomes professionally to the public

Assessments / assignments

Assessment will be conducted through the completion of project work produced during the module, such as a range of outputs from research/project work, reflective journals/essays and oral presentations.

Learning outcomes will be assessed through 100% coursework and will typically include:

• audio / visual and/or printed outcomes of project work
• presentation / Critique
• exhibition materials

All elements must be passed in order to pass this module.

Summative written feedback and feedforward will be provided at the end of the module. Grades will be issued at the end of the Semester.

Teaching methods / timetable

• lectures with demonstrations of visual research practice
• workshops providing students with practical hands-on experience of filming and editing work
• talks by invited speakers
• tutorials to enable students to share work with small groups and gain supportive feedback from tutors and class discussion
• project work combining individual and teamwork