DE6029 - Research Practice for Interior Design

Research Practice for Interior Design is taught through a series of lectures, alongside which studio-based group seminars and tutorial sessions will support your individual learning. You are expected to develop your writing and research activities independently, using lecture content to inform your work, and studio tutorials to guide your progress. This allows you to build confidence and develop skills prior to summative assessment. Peer learning is encouraged through the interaction of the student group during delivered lectures and group seminars.

We refer to this studio approach as follows:

Project brief(s) will be introduced through one or more briefing sessions where the brief will be fully explained and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. The module is delivered via a combination of studio teaching, seminars and interactive activities, tutor guided and student-led independent learning.

Formative studio-based feedback will support and guide your learning and the progress of your theoretical enquiry. Where appropriate, guest lectures and field work will support project briefs and contribute to your understanding of theoretical enquiry for interior design practice. This approach will allow you to develop an understanding at both a theoretical and practical level prior to summative assessment.

You will take part in a final presentation of your theoretical project work which will receive final feedback from staff, which you will be required to document and process to advance future design projects and define your own learning. Summative assessment is through the submission of a visually rich project report, which will enable you to learn through an enquiry-based and research-tutored approach, and reflect the accumulation and integration of knowledge gained throughout the module.

Support and feedback will be provided by a variety of methods throughout theoretical enquiry-based projects, starting at the briefing and concluding upon submission of each report. Support includes: Staff Contact · Module tutors who provide academic support. · Interim individual staff-student tutorials to guide enquiry and methods used. · Seminars and staff-facilitated group discussions enable staff to interact with students and encourage peer learning and support. · Project briefs are normally introduced via a briefing session, where the brief is fully explained and explored by both staff and students. · The eLearning Portal will be utilised to communicate all relevant module information. Studio Contact Time · Modules are delivered through a combination of lecture supported seminars and studio activity, studio teaching, guided and independent learning new skills are delivered through group workshop activities. · Studio feedback takes place to facilitate students’ development in the areas being studied, to allow formative feedback and the identification of examples of good practice and development areas to be considered. · Independent study hours will be utilised to continue the development and progression of theoretical enquiry. Peer and Independent Support · Students are encouraged and expected to maintain a personal development plan (PDP) and are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning. · Studio-based activity supports the development of peer learning, appreciation of peers' work, and ability to critically evaluation one's own work and that of others.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding: Develop and apply research knowledge and skills within a design context, fostering a proactive and innovative mindset that initiates and informs interior design project direction. (RESEARCH) Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities: Identify, review and critically discuss professional practice design and appropriate research related topics in a scholarly manner as evidenced through your ability to produce critically relevant research documents. (WRITING) Effectively communicate and present creative and complex research to professional standards. (COMMUNICATION) Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA): Engage in critical discourse to assess and discuss ideas and issues shaping the context of present and future design methodologies and practices. (CONTEXTUAL)

A theoretical enquiry project will be carried out and after submission, a final mark will be given for the module. Based on a design research project portfolio comprising two components; a design research project outline at 20%, a visually rich project report weighted at 80%.

The assessment and feedback strategy is: a. Formative Assessment Project tutorials and staged reviews with tutors and peers will provide an opportunity for critique and formative direction. This will allow students to reflect upon their own work and act upon feedback prior to final submission. Verbal feedback is designed to help students to identify areas of success and/or further development to be considered. b. Summative assessment The project brief/s driving the module will identify the assessment criteria and submission requirements (deliverables) appropriate to the topic of the project. The assessable elements will consist of a project portfolio, which will enable students to demonstrate the process and technical skills developed throughout the module. In addition studio contact, observations and presentations will ensure tutors are able to assess the learners’ overall performance holistically against the learning outcomes for the module. A single grade will then be aligned to the submission based upon multiple deliverables.
c. Feedback strategy
Feedback will be delivered verbally at the point of each tutorial, where discussion will clarify future direction. Upon receiving summative assessment students will receive a grade reflecting achievement against the learning outcomes of the module. Students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning by recording verbal feedback in order to reflect upon it as they engage in subsequent learning.

Business and Commercial Strategies for Interior Design

Speculative Futures for Interior Design

Research Practice for Interior Design is designed to enhance your independent practice, in readiness for the self-directed Final Major project brief. This is

your opportunity to reflect on your journey so far and articulate what motivates you as a designer. This will then form the critical context for your final

project, which you will comprehensively investigate, becoming an expert in your chosen topic of interest and developing your own rich knowledge-base.

Through systematic research and analysis you will gain key insights that inform your design practice and influence your decisions. This will involve primary

and secondary research activities using designerly methods, tools and techniques. You will be introduced to a variety of analytical procedures that will

enable you to interpret your research data. The outcome of the project will embed the full spectrum of communication techniques that you have gained so

far, combining text content with engaging and informative visual and diagrams, engaging your reader and communicating your research findings

effectively.