Program Overview

Overview

Design Communication introduces students to fundamental modes of communication that are used to comprehend, conceive, explore, articulate and document built environments. It covers the domains of sketching, technical drawing, model making (physical and digital), visual, verbal and written communication, diagramming and photography. The unit both familiarises students with necessary technical skills and encourages their creative deployment through practical experimentation. Students will gain a range of fundamental sketching, drawing, and modelling skills. This Unit explores the roles that analogue and digital communication techniques play in contemporary thinking for built environments. Throughout the semester, students are asked to develop and explore a built environment design idea through representation in various media and switching media from iteration to iteration. This unit will also introduce students to the concept and methods of development of a design portfolio in a built environment.

Unit Details and Rules

• Academic unit: Architecture
• Credit points: 6
• Prerequisites: None
• Corequisites: None
• Prohibitions: DESA1001
• Assumed knowledge: HSC Mathematics and HSC English Standard or equivalent
• Available to study abroad and exchange students: Yes

Teaching Staff

• Coordinator: Anastasia Globa

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

• Type: Assignment
  • Description: Portfolio Canvas Submission
  • Weight: 25%
  • Due: Formal exam period, 12 Jun 2025 at 23:59
  • Length: 20-page Booklet
  • Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
• Type: Attendance
  • Description: Attendance, Students are required to meet the minimum 90% attendance to pass this unit
  • Weight: 0%
  • Due: Multiple weeks
  • Duration: Duration of class
  • Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
• Type: Online task
  • Description: Klauzura 1 #earlyfeedbacktask
  • Weight: 5%
  • Due: Week 03, 13 Mar 2025 at 23:59
  • Length: Short design project (in-class activity)
  • Outcomes assessed: LO6 LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
• Type: Presentation
  • Description: 1. Architectural Exploration In-Class Presentation and Canvas Submission
  • Weight: 25%
  • Due: Week 07, 10 Apr 2025 at 23:59
  • Length: Presentation 10 min: Panel, Model, Ortho
  • Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
• Type: Online task
  • Description: Klauzura 2 Short Design Project
  • Weight: 5%
  • Due: Week 09
  • Length: Short design project (in-class activity)
  • Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
• Type: Presentation
  • Description: 2. Design Presentation In-class Presentation + Canvas Submission
  • Weight: 40%
  • Due: Week 13, 29 May 2025 at 23:59
  • Length: Presentation 10 min: Panel, Model, Ortho
  • Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Learning Support

• Simple extensions: If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension
• Special consideration: If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements
• Using AI responsibly: Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning
• Support for students: The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students

Weekly Schedule

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

• LO1: Deploy a diverse arsenal of media to explore, experiment and develop design concepts
• LO2: Use a range of fundamental design tools, namely; freehand drawing, orthogonal drawing, physical modelling, photography, digital design tools and image-generative AI
• LO3: Use skills in perspective, plan, section and elevation drawing, to creatively articulate design ideation, proportion, scale and composition
• LO4: Communicate ideas using a built environment vocabulary and presenting style to diverse audiences
• LO5: Critically and creatively engage with a design brief, development process and design context
• LO6: Understand and respond strategically to multi-scale design contexts in preparation for subsequent units of study

Graduate Qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

• GQ1: Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline
• GQ2: Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem
• GQ3: Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context
• GQ4: Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies
• GQ5: Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions
• GQ6: Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures
• GQ7: Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries
• GQ8: Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context
• GQ9: Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision

Additional Information

• Additional costs: Approx $65 AUD is estimated to be used for drawing and modelling materials
• Disclaimer: The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers
• This unit of study outline was last modified on 07 Mar 2025
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• CRICOS Number: 00026A
• TEQSA: PRV12057