Design Philosophy (H1044)
Design Philosophy
Module H1044
Module details for 2025/26.
15 credits
FHEQ Level 6
Module Outline
This module is about the overlap between design and philosophy, it is about developing students distinctive views on design, why they design, what influences them, their individual design skills and the ability to analyse how they go about the process of design and design thinking. This module is also about developing an understanding of how successful designers think and work and gain insight into what it means to be a designer and how designers employ creative thinking skills.
The module will also develop and expand their desktop publishing software skills in preparation for producing their final year illustrated thesis. It also aims to give commentary, advice and provide the opportunity for students to initiate and develop their own research in relation to their design practice, aiding them to better understand - and perhaps also to question – how and why they design. This will result in a series of essays, visual presentations and debates, which together will culminate in a sustained piece of research in the form of a design magazine.
Library
No single book covers this wide-ranging course but the following books are a helpful resource:
Twentieth- Century design - J.M> Woodham
Design: History, theory and practice of product design - Bernard E Burdek
The Shape of Things: A Philosophy of Design - Vilem Flusser, Martin Pawley
Overlooking the Visual - Kathryn Moore
Product Design - Paul Rogers + Alex Milton
Design Now - Taschen
Design Thinking: Understanding how designers thing and work - Nigel Cross
The fundamentals of Product Design - Richard Morris
Product Design - Mike Baxter
Deconstructing product design: Exploring the form, function, and usability of 100 amazing products - William Lidwell
Thinking objects - contemporary approaches to product design
Universal Principles of Design - W. Lidwell, K. Holden, J. Butler
A Users Guide for the 21st Century - Alex Steffen
Designing Pleasurable Products - Patrick W Jordon
The Design of Everyday things - Donald A Norman
Module learning outcomes
Initiate and develop their own research in relation to their design practice and thinking
Understand the critical, contextual, historical, conceptual and ethical dimensions of design
Analyse information and experiences, formulate independent judgements and articulate reasoned arguments through reflection, review and evaluation
Identify personal strengths and reflect on personal development
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 100.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Project | T1 Week 8 | 15.00% |
| Presentation | T1 Week 9 | 15.00% |
| Project | T1 Week 4 | 15.00% |
| Project | T1 Week 6 | 15.00% |
| Project | T1 Week 11 | 40.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Semester | Seminar | 3 hours | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Miss Claire Potter
Assess convenor
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