Design research methods and seminar (Preliminary Research )

TAD4523 Essay Questions You should choose one of the following essay questions to focus on for Assessment tasks 1 & 2. Sustainability What do designers need to consider to move towards a “culture of sustainability”? Discuss in relation to 2-3 examples of design work. How does design contribute to “greenwashing,” and how can it more effectively engage with the issue of sustainability? Discuss in relation to 2-3 examples. Critical Design What is Critical Design, and how does it engage with its audience? Discuss in relation to 2-3 examples. Can designers create effective interventions in relation to political or social issues? Discuss in relation to one particular issue. How does design anticipate possible futures? Discuss in relation to examples of speculative or critical design. Semiotics and the Commodity How can semiotics be used to critically analyse design works? Discuss in relation to 2-3 examples. You should consider a particular area of design (for instance: packaging or fashion or advertising or logo design) so that useful comparisons can be made between your examples. What is “mythology” according to Roland Barthes? How can we use semiotic analysis to confront mythologies perpetuated by design objects? Discuss in relation to 2-3 examples. Urbanism & The Public How does design shape our experience of urban space? Discuss in relation to examples of either architecture, public art, or advertising. How does design contribute to the idea of a “public”? Discuss in relation to at least one design example. Socially Responsible Design What are the principles of Socially-Responsible design? Discuss whether they have been successfully implemented in relation to 2-3 examples of design works. How can designers work responsibly in collaboration with different groups and individuals? Discuss in relation to at least one example.