In this unit, you will examine the role of design industries and practices as enablers of social justice, and political and social movements. The concept of ‘social design,’ and the responsibilities of designers as social actors and agents of social change, will also be introduced and discussed.

You will identify and reflect on a social issue affecting a specific social group, or your own community, and consider how to create an appropriate design intervention in the form of a social campaign strategy and materials. You will also evaluate socio-economic impacts and benefits that your design-led intervention might have.

Practical Approaches to Learning at University College

The University College is committed to providing students with opportunities to engage in practical learning experiences. Every unit is therefore driven by at least one approach that is problem or project-based, or that involves work-integrated learning.

In this unit, you will participate in a range of learning activities that focus on design thinking processes and principles, and then be provided opportunities to apply these in practice. You will therefore empathise with the customer/user, identify and define the problem, prototype, test and propose solutions.

These activities allow you to develop discipline-specific skills, knowledge and behaviours, alongside a range of employability skills and professional attributes. Some of these include, for example, empathy, active inquiry, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and innovation, and communication.

To find more information on the University College’s approach to teaching and learning, click here to view in the Unit Outline Essential Information resource.