Course Outline | DR2007 Surface Design

DR2007 Surface Design
(PRO345)
[Studio Contact Hours: 39 hours; Pre-requisites: NIL; Academic Unit: 3.0]

Pre-requisite : NIL
Academic Unit : 3 AU

Course Description

Learning Objective

To introduce to the students through practice-based learning the many ways that a surface may be decorated, treated and constructed. To introduce to students the aesthetic and practical function of a surface

Content

The surface design of an object is an integral part of the object itself. It can be decorated in such a way that key aspects of the object’s function are encoded or it may serve only to present an engaging aesthetic. It may be a thing that has been applied onto the surface or it may be integral to the material and the object itself. Surface Design is a studio course. Students will learn how to apply designs onto a wide range of surfaces and materials using a range of techniques. Students will be introduced to surface design through projects involving the researching of visual sources, idea development through drawing and colour sketches and final output.

Course Outline

S/N	Topic
1	• Intro to course
2 – 6	• Surface design principles • Applications of surface designs – Project: ongoing projects and assignments • Intro to the cultural and historical context of surface design – Pattern as status signifier – Pattern and gender – Pattern through different cultures – Surfaces and the history of technology • Surface design: – Surfaces as veneer (printed, painted etc) – Surface as material (glass, ceramic, stone etc) – Textiles – Hybrids (laminates, new media etc) • Surface and code – Colour/pattern/motif etc as signifier • Surface and function – Issues such as: grip, reveal, maintenance etc • Visits to manufactures
7	• Mid Sem review of assignments
8 – 12	• Project: intro to final project • Materials technology • Products • Surfaces, ergonomics and function • Incorporation of designs onto/into various surfaces/materials using technologies such as: – Printing (Screen, Digital, Transfer, etc) – Material manipulations – Composites • Colour and Finishing • Design development – Successful Case Studies
13	• Final review of assignments

Learning Outcome

The students will be able to recognise the importance of surface as a aspect of the design that serves the needs of the product and its user. The students will know pattern as a thing that is subject to formal and aesthetic consideration.

Student Assessment

Final Assessment: 40%
Continuous Assessment: 60% (of which at least 15% is participation)

Continuous assessment components may include:

Studio-based exercises and projects
Individual, group and team-based assignments

Textbooks/References