| Unit name | Idea Visualisation |
|---|---|
| Unit code | INOV10007 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Mr. Bartlett |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None. |
| School/department | Centre for Innovation |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
“Visual thinking means taking advantage of our innate ability to see – both with our eyes and with our mind’s eye – in order to discover ideas that are otherwise invisible, develop those ideas quickly and intuitively, and then share those ideas with other people in a way that they simply ‘get’.” - author Dan Roam, The Back of the Napkin. Idea Visualisation focuses on developing key skills in sketching, diagramming, and visual storytelling – critical for effective communication and collaboration in design.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
Drawing is the core skill with which designers create, communicate and collaborate. Year 1 focuses on foundational skills and knowledge – introducing you to the essence of design, design thinking and innovation, emphasizing creativity, visual communication, and problem identification. With an emphasis on intellectual stimulation and personal development, you will engage with real-world issues that challenge traditional approaches and encourage reflective, active learning.
An overview of content
Sketching and visualisation are critical skills with which designers create, communicate, and collaborate. Learn how to command attention in meetings by practising drawing, diagramming, and presentation techniques. By actively engaging in real-time drawing and diagramming, you will learn to efficiently summarize issues, empower and draw out ideas, foster collaboration in groups, and leverage visualisation for inspiring action and crafting impactful narratives.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Following this unit, you will be able to utilise real-time sketching and diagramming among groups in order to enhance right-brain activity; effectively summarize issues; empower and extract ideas from everyone; and foster collaboration through shared imagery.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
How you will learn
Teaching will be an interactive studio with live workshop sessions, in-person lectures and design critiques. The primary assessment mode is through projects and assignments of varying length. The pedagogy is discursive with an emphasis on student presentations, peer group learning, workshops and group critique. This simulates the group-based professional context of design practices and allows for the kind of discussion, debate, and diversity of perspective that really stimulates creative learning. Teaching and assessments are focused on foundation visualisation skills and real-world case studies to build required technical skills and add to the authenticity of what is being learnt and why. Students regularly practise their subject outside formal taught sessions.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Mid-term Portfolio Critique (individual assessment), 2000 words or equivalent (comprising 500 written words plus practical work) (0% Not Required for Credit), [ILOs 1-5]
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Visualisation Portfolio (individual assessment), 3500 words or equivalent (comprising 1000 written words plus practical work) (90%), [ILOs 1-5]
A curated collection of sketches, visual presentations and communication designs developed throughout the term.
Classroom Contribution (individual assessment) (10%), [ILO 5]
Active participation in a variety of classroom critiques, share-outs, and interactive activities throughout the term.
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. INOV10007).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
