DE7037 - Design Futures with Emerging Technologies

When learning on campus you will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars, workshops and project supervision to cover three core areas of design thinking, research methods and merging technologies’ influences on design. Lectures and learning materials will be used to introduce core concepts and smaller group seminars to support the student learning. A part of your directed learning will be based on practical engagement in the X-studio environment where you will be working on a team project, applying and testing the theory, knowledge, and concepts that you have learnt. Seminars and project supervision will allow you to engage with tutors whose research portfolios align with design thinking and innovation, design research and research methods, emerging technologies, contemporary influences and disruptive innovation to bring both theoretical perspectives and specialist expertise to the projects. 



You will also engage in independent study, which is a vital component of the module. This will involve identifying and exploring areas of personal interest to deepen and broaden your knowledge and understanding of the subject. Independent learning activities may include extended reading, reflection, research, and more.

You will be supported by a team of academic experts through scheduled lectures and seminars, with opportunities to discuss your ideas and methods during project supervision. You will engage in meaningful dialogue with tutors and fellow students, receiving feedback on your ongoing work. This feedback will allow you to refine your process and improve your work. Additionally, you will keep a record of this feedback to track your progress, enhance your skills and intellectual understanding, and develop your Portfolio and Personal Development Plan (PDP).



The Master’s programme curriculum has been developed to capitalise on the extensive, active and well-defined research emphasis of the School and channel this expertise to support your development in line with your PDP through a range of expert lectures, seminars, project supervision and tutorial support delivered on campus. The E-Learning Portal provides important learning resources for campus-based students. Some lectures and seminars may be recorded through BB collaborate and Panopto so that students can review their content after the event.



ESAP support is integrated into the programme and is designed to develop your study skills, helping you achieve the module learning outcomes.



Where appropriate, you may also be directed to engage with Study Skills +, or other resources offered through the University Student Support Services such as Dyslexia Support.



The Library is open 24 hours a day and E-Learning Portal houses all your module documents including your timetable. These services can be accessed on a range of devices.

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 (K&U):

Evaluate the integration of design thinking theory and methods in design futures with emerging technologies.

Analyse relevant design research approaches and methods suitable for future contexts.



Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities (IPSA):

Demonstrate the critical application of design theory and methods in the context of your creative practice.

Manage your individual and teamwork responsibilities effectively.



Personal Values Attributes (PVA) (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity):

Critically evaluate the application, utility, and limitations of the adopted theory/methods and identify how this could be improved in your practice. 

You will be assessed twice through a viva as:

An individual interim research and design presentation to evidence your interpretation of existing theories and methods in the field, supported by an initial application and implementation of this knowledge in your practice. (60% weighted)

A team based final design presentation to showcase the final project outcomes and evidence the team’s interpretation of existing theories and methods being applied in practice and a summary of possible recommendations. (40% weighted)



Specific submission requirements to enter design competitions will be available on the module brief.

The module will be marked as Pass/Fail based on your overall assessment result.

This module is exempt from the Anonymous Marking Policy. The nature of working closely and directly with the students in teams makes anonymity unfeasible.


Formative assessment will take place at 2 staged points and through on-going dialogue in group work, project supervision, assignment discussions and tutorials throughout the course of the module.

Summative feedback will be provided to students on a module assessment sheet against the module learning outcomes.

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Design is the means for creating a better tomorrow! This module will introduce you how you can use design to realise this positive future. You will explore how design thinking and other design approaches can be adapted and applied in a human- and planet- centred way to foster your own approach to designing for future solutions, processes, and practice. This will equip you to tackle not only classic business focused design challenges but also those focused on social good, applying the latest advances in emerging technologies to design solutions and processes.



This module is designed to help you understand how design can be applied to real-world challenges where a single design process or method may not be sufficient to address a problem effectively. It focuses on two key aspects:

Synthesizing and applying multiple design methods within a cohesive process.

Understanding, applying, and reflecting on design methods to enhance your own practice.



By learning to apply, synthesize, reflect on, and adapt a broad range of design methods, you will be better equipped to respond to complex problems in the future. Additionally, you will gain the skills needed to plan, manage, and improve design processes, especially in the context of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).