Master of Design (Design Anthropology)
Overview
Less than 20 years old, design anthropology represents the synthesis of academic anthropology with the professional practice of design. It seeks to understand how the processes and artefacts of design help define what it means to be human – how design translates human values into tangible experiences.
The majority of units will be delivered at the Prahran campus. Some units may be delivered at the Hawthorn campus.
Students studying this course through Open University Australia study under course code DMDA30Z.
(International students are required to study full-time and on campus and cannot undertake the other study modes.)
Information sessions
Visit our Meet Us page to see when we are visiting your home country (or here in Australia).
For further information on this course, please visit the faculty web page at: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/design/postgrad/
| Duration | 18 Month/s | ||
Campus and intakes  |
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| Course code | DMDA30 | ||
| CRICOS code | 073083K | ||
| Fees* | A$23,250 (annual for 2013)* |
*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.
Course in detail
Course description
Less than 20 years old, design anthropology represents the synthesis of academic anthropology with the professional practice of design. It seeks to understand how the processes and artefacts of design help define what it means to be human – how design translates human values into tangible experiences.
The majority of units will be delivered at the Prahran campus. Some units may be delivered at the Hawthorn campus.
Students studying this course through Open University Australia study under course code DMDA30Z.
(International students are required to study full-time and on campus and cannot undertake the other study modes.)
Course structure
Students are required to complete 150 credit points, normally undertaken full-time*, studying 50 credit points per semester. A full-time weekly workload includes 12 hours of contact time and expects a minimum of another 24 hours study time.
The master program consists of two compulsory units (one unit of 12.5 credit points in Research Methods and one of 25 credit points in Design Studio) of core study; followed by five discipline units (five times 12.5 credit points) of design anthropology. Students also select a specialisation of four units (four times 12.5 credit points) to complete their degree.
The master program allows both international and domestic students to take advantage of the on-site, full-time learning, complemented with some online offerings. Whilst it is rare for master students to exit before completing the qualification, this program incorporates a Graduate Diploma exit point, usually after 100 credit points have been completed and subject to approval by the program coordinator.
Full-time master students will study the two core and the first two discipline units on campus. Part-time* master students study these units online with the option of on-campus study subject to maximum enrolment restrictions per unit and approval from the program coordinator.
*International students are required to study full-time and on campus and cannot undertake the other study modes.
Units of study
All units are 12.5 credit points unless otherwise noted.
The majority of units will be delivered at the Prahran campus. Some units may be delivered at the Hawthorn campus.
Year 1
Semester 1
HDG530 Research Methods for Design
HDG531 Fundamental Design Studio
HDA650 Introduction to Design Anthropology
Semester 1
HDG530 Research Methods for Design
HDG531 Fundamental Design Studio
HDA650 Introduction to Design Anthropology
Semester 2
HDA651 History and Theory in Design Anthropology
HDA652 Multi-Sensory Design Anthropology
HDA651 History and Theory in Design Anthropology
HDA652 Multi-Sensory Design Anthropology
Plus
two units from a selected specialisation
Indigenous Knowledge
HDIK670 Indigenous Knowledge in Global Contexts
HDIK671 Indigenous Approaches of Designing for Cultural Wellness
OR
Cross Cultural Communication Design
HDCC670 Introduction to Cross Cultural Brand Identity Strategy
HDCC671 Design Strategy for a Global Context
OR
Sustainable Design
HDSD670 Principles and Theories of Sustainable Design
HDSD671 Eco-Design Studio
two units from a selected specialisation
Indigenous Knowledge
HDIK670 Indigenous Knowledge in Global Contexts
HDIK671 Indigenous Approaches of Designing for Cultural Wellness
OR
Cross Cultural Communication Design
HDCC670 Introduction to Cross Cultural Brand Identity Strategy
HDCC671 Design Strategy for a Global Context
OR
Sustainable Design
HDSD670 Principles and Theories of Sustainable Design
HDSD671 Eco-Design Studio
Year 2
Semester 3
HDA653 Designing for Cultural Groups: Kin, Tribes and Communities
HDA654 Transcultural Aesthetics and Contemporary Design
Semester 3
HDA653 Designing for Cultural Groups: Kin, Tribes and Communities
HDA654 Transcultural Aesthetics and Contemporary Design
Plus
the remaining two units from the selected specialisation
Indigenous Knowledge
HDIK672 Situated Knowledge and Community Design
HDIK673 Indigenous Futures (Capstone Project)
OR
Cross Cultural Communication Design
HDCC672 Brand Identity Design in a Multicultural Environment
HDCC673 Capstone Project: Cross Cultural Communication Design
OR
Sustainable Design
HDSD672 Building Sustainable Design Practices
HDSD673 Capstone Project: Sustainable Design
the remaining two units from the selected specialisation
Indigenous Knowledge
HDIK672 Situated Knowledge and Community Design
HDIK673 Indigenous Futures (Capstone Project)
OR
Cross Cultural Communication Design
HDCC672 Brand Identity Design in a Multicultural Environment
HDCC673 Capstone Project: Cross Cultural Communication Design
OR
Sustainable Design
HDSD672 Building Sustainable Design Practices
HDSD673 Capstone Project: Sustainable Design
Graduate outcomes
Aims and objectives
The purpose of the Master of Design (Design Anthropology) program is threefold:
(1) to provide design and social science undergraduate students direct pathways into the highly professionalised design anthropology field at the master level, which is the minimal degree requirement for placement in the field;
(2) to offer current untrained or under-trained ‘design anthropologist’ and ‘anthrodesigner’ professionals (e.g. user experience designers and researchers, branding and consumer insights specialists, social and product innovation consultants) a degree that systematically credentials the design and anthropological theory and skills necessary for recognition and advancement in those professions;
(3) to lay the intellectual and practical foundation for research pathways into the Swinburne Faculty of Design’s PhD program as related to the activities of CIKADA, the Faculty of Design’s Indigenous Knowledge and Design Anthropology research group.
Entry requirements
Special entry requirements
Please read the Admission requirements section carefully and also submit copies of relevant academic transcripts, proof of citizenship, an entrance essay and a design/design strategy portfolio.English language requirements
Swinburne College English for Academic Purposes Certificate: EAP 5 Advanced: 70%; OR, obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; OR, a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 550 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 79, with no individual band below 18. Refer to the English Language Requirements website for further information.
Prerequisites
Successful completion of a Bachelor degree program with the equivalent of an Australian system 60% grade average (or better) from a university recognised for social science or design education is required. Candidates with other tertiary qualifications and relevant industry experience will also be considered. An entrance essay and design/design strategy portfolio is required for all applicants to the program. A design strategy portfolio consists of a series of 1-2 page project case studies that demonstrate the applicant’s holistic approach to formulating and solving social challenges through anthropological and design thinking.The normal requirement for admission to the Masters of Design (Design Anthropology) program and the Graduate Diploma of Design (Design Anthropology) program is a Bachelors degree with the equivalent of an Australian system 60% grade average (or better) in a design, social science (especially anthropology), humanities, information science or human-computer interaction discipline.
The Masters of Design (Design Anthropology) and the Graduate Diploma of Design (Design Anthroplogy) also provide an entry point for applicants who do not hold a degree but have at least eight years relevant industry experience demonstrating potential to undertake work at this level.
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Course fees*
A$23,250 (annual for 2013)*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.
