This course examines how the design of objects mediates the relationship between our bodies and architectural spaces, influencing human activities and behaviours. Through hands-on studio practice, students will engage with a range of design skills and fabrication processes, including generative and iterative design methods, material experimentation, and project management. Projects are contextualised through relevant theory and concepts, such as materiality, structures, affordances, and critical design. By interrogating archetypal furniture forms, the course challenges students to design and fabricate objects that support human activities while questioning and shaping social behaviour and cultural norms. Participants will develop innovative solutions that extend beyond utility, exploring how design can convey personal narratives, disrupt expectations, and offer cultural critiques within the built environment.
Topics offered in this course currently occur in alternating years and include the following:
- The Elevated Surface: Design for wood table structures
- Supporting Bodies: Now that we’re here, where do we sit?
The course is taught by a combination of readings, lectures, discussions, demonstrations, and supervised practice that exposes students to a combination of technology, theory, history, and design and making processes. Workplace health and safety instruction is an integral part of this course.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- develop and refine project concepts using generative and iterative design processes to create innovative design propositions that challenge archetypal forms and consider a plurality of functions (utilitarian, social, narrative, aesthetic, etc);
- practice and experiment with relevant materials and techniques to develop and execute design ideas, resulting in samples, models, prototypes, and finished works;
- effectively plan, manage, and complete design projects in response to the project briefs, demonstrating competency in project organisation and execution;
- investigate and integrate relevant theories and contextual examples from design, architecture, art and other disciplines to inform and substantiate creative projects; and
- demonstrate criticality by articulating rationale for intentional compositional choices in design projects and through reflective evaluation of their own work and that of other creative practitioners.
Other Information
School of Art & Design studio courses have a limited enrolment capacity. Students are advised to enrol as early as possible to maximise the opportunity of securing a place.
This course will have a Materials Fee. At the ANU School of Art & Design, each workshop sources appropriate specialist?materials,?which are made available to students?to facilitate their working?effectively,?efficiently and safely?within our programs.? The School of Art & Design is able to supply materials that don’t compromise ANU obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS), and that have been assessed as suitable for each course.? The Materials Fee ?is payable for the School of Art & Design to supply consumables and materials that become your physical property. You can choose to pay the Materials Fee and have these materials supplied to you through the School of Art & Design, allowing you to take advantage of the GST-free bulk purchasing power of the ANU.?These materials are also WHS compliant. The exact cost of the Materials Fee will be updated in the Class Summary for each semester in which the course is offered. The full SOAD policy can be read here: https://soad.cass.anu.edu.au/required-resources-and-incidental-fees.
Indicative Assessment
- Portfolio of studio work (Project 1) (25) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Portfolio of studio work (Project 2) (25) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Portfolio of studio work (Project 3) (25) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Independent research report/presentation (1000 words or 8-10 minute presentation) (25) [LO 4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 48 hours of contact over 12 weeks: lectures, tutorials, group collaboration, critiques and supervised studio practice; and
b) 82 hours of independent studio practice, group collaboration, reading and writing.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
N/A
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 12
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4020 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $5580 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Elevated Surface: Design for wood table struct | ||||||
| 4008 | 17 Feb 2025 | 24 Feb 2025 | 31 Mar 2025 | 23 May 2025 | In Person | View |