Start Date between May 23 - Mar 24

This module explores theoretical and practical aspects of digital design and communication, from the identification of design principles to ideation, in individual settings. It will expand students' knowledge of the design thinking process in different communication design disciplines (such as graphics, information design, UX/UI). The module is divided into two main sections focusing on a) theories in design and b) design practice; Students will learn how the theoretical concepts and research outcomes inform and are applied in practice. The module will also allow students to respond to design briefs and to 1) explore different areas of design; 2) apply theoretical concepts and learn by doing, exploring and experimenting in a wide range of design areas.

This module will provide advanced knowledge and practice on research in design. It will review current thinking on design research and examine a range of research methods (such as questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, observations, and experiments) with practical design applications. Students will acquire skills and techniques for data collection and interpretation. Upon completing this module, students should be able to independently plan and apply research to explore design ideas, design issues and evaluate creative solutions to inform and enhance design practice. Social and ethical issues will be discussed using case studies at different stages throughout the module. This module builds on the teaching provided in the programme’s foundation modules and should be undertaken following carousel one.

This module will introduce students to the main theories and principles of human-centred design at an advanced level. The main aim of this module is to enable students to work towards actively creating usable design solutions. Since it is essential to ensure that digital design/communication solutions fit certain users’ needs, this module will put the user at the centre of the design process. In the light of design thinking techniques, students will be able to analyse and understand the design needs of a specific audience. Through individual and group reflective practices, students will learn collecting and analysing data, generating creative ideas as well as applying usability testing to evaluate design concepts and solutions. Some project choices could be from the application areas of such as human-centred design include apps and websites design, virtual reality implementations, interactive infographics, data visualization, storytelling, etc. This module builds on the teaching provided in the programme's foundation modules and should be undertaken following carousel one.

This Research Project module provides an opportunity for students to develop, evaluate and present a design project independently, using the case study approach, on a topic of relevance to the programme. Through a case study investigation, this module builds on students’ knowledge and strengthens their independent research, creative application, and practical digital design and communication skills. The module will allow each student to choose a subject area, propose a topic and a project plan, and then apply the knowledge, skills, and creativity acquired previously to develop their projects to a high level, followed by an evaluation. Learning will be monitored at different stages.