Greetings AnthroDesign Group,
This is Dori Tunstall. I announced a few months ago the
accreditation of the Swinburne University's post-graduate programs in
Design Anthropology. Now Swinburne has passed through the final
administrative hurdle to allow us to market our new Design Anthropology
Programs in the Faculty of Design.
Swinburne Design is actively recruiting students who seek to engage in a
design praxis based on the understanding the various human value systems
and focused on designing tangible conditions for better ways of being
with communities, companies, and the environment. Courses begin in late
February 2011. Please feel free to contact me via email but also fill
out a Enquiry form. But here are a few FAQs that I thought I would
address:
What kinds of Design Anthropology programs does Swinburne Faculty of
Design offer?
In its Design Anthropology programs, Swinburne offers (1) an onsite
Masters of Design in Design Anthropology CRICOS: 073083K, (2) an online
Graduate Diploma of Design in Design Anthropology through Swinburne and
Open Universities Australia CRICOS: 072750K, and (3) the ability to take
individual courses through OUA as well. You can apply for a PhD with an
emphasis on Design Anthropology through the Indigenous Knowledge and
Design Anthropology research group.
What are the programs' structures?
The Masters program consists of a three unit Core, five Discipline
units, and selective four unit Specializations in Indigenous Knowledge,
Cross-Cultural Brand Identity Design, and Sustainable Design. The
structure recognizes that a grounding in Design Anthropology can lead to
many different career paths among the non-proft sector, the governmental
sector, or the industry/business sectors. Visit the Swinburne MDes
Design Anthropology page for more information on individual units.
The online Graduate Diploma program consists of a three unit Core, three
Discipline units, and selective two unit Specializations in Indigenous
Knowledge, Cross-Cultural Brand Identity Design, and Sustainable Design.
Visit the Swinburne or OUA GradDip pages for more information on
individual units.
What is the philosophy behind Swinburne's Design Anthropology programs?
The programs are based on the idea that "Design translates values into
tangible experiences." Whether in a community, company, or for your own
professional practice, one should understand the value systems of the
people with whom one engages directly or indirectly. Anthropology has
always been a discipline seeking to understand people's value systems
and continues to develop a wide range of theories and methods to
accomplish those goals. Yet value systems are not experienced in the
abstract, but are rather through the interaction with the things,
messages, environments, and processes created in the world. Today, these
things, messages, environments, and processes have become the knowledge
domain of design. Thus, the Swinburne Design Anthropology program
focuses on hybrid "designerly" and anthropological knowledge and
practices that while has had their origins in industry, are being
expanded in academia in order to create new practices for both fields.
In the Swinburne Design Anthropology equal focus on developing skills in
both thinking and making within every course, with an understanding that
both create the conditions for better ways of being.
What are the career opportunities in Design Anthropology?
Employment may be found in areas such as marketing, user experience
designers and researchers, branding and consumer insight specialists,
government, and social and product innovation consultant. But this is a
program designed to help you create new career opportunities.
Why should I enroll in Swinburne's Design Anthropology MDes Program,
online GradDip, or take individual courses?
Over the last 10 years, Design Anthropology has become highly
professionalized. Even the mcredentials and experience in the field. All the programs provide the
credentials to demonstrate your knowledge of the field and ability to
communicate the value of that knowledge to employers.
Of course, I encourage everyone to come to lovely Melbourne, Australia
to gain the full experience of all the units the MDes program and share
in building a strong cohort of diverse practitioners. The first cohort
will have a special role to play in shaping the future of the Design
Anthropology programs. But I do understand that some may have family or
work obligations that prevent a 1.5 year move to Australia.
For those, I recommend that you engage in the online Graduate Diploma in
Design Anthropology. Offered through OUA for those anywhere in the world
(except international students onshore in Australia on student visas),
you can complete the courses day or night and at your own pace.
Not ready for a full degree and just wanting to top up your skills? Open
Universities Australia OUA offers the option of taking individual units
in the Design Anthropology graduate diploma. These include courses on:
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HDG531z Fundamental Design Studio
HDA650z Introduction to Design Anthropology
HDA651z History and Theory in Design Anthropology
HDA653z Designing for Cultural Groups: Kin, Tribes and Communities
HDIK670z Indigenous Knowledge in Global Contexts
HDIK671z Indigenous Approaches of Designing for Cultural Wellness
HDCC670z Introduction to Cross Cultural Brand Identity Strategy
HDCC671z Design Strategy for a Global Context
HDSD670z Principles and Theories of Sustainable Design
HDSD672z Building Sustainable Design Practices
What are the requirements and how do I apply?
Successful completion of a bachelor degree program with the equivalent
of an Australian system 60% grade average (or better) from a university
recognised for social science or design education is required.
Candidates with other tertiary qualifications and relevant industry
experience will also be considered. An entrance essay and design/design
strategy portfolio is required for all applicants to the program. A
design strategy portfolio consists of a series of 1-2 page project case
studies that demonstrate the applicant’s holistic approach to
formulating and solving social challenges through anthropological and
design thinking.
The normal requirement for admission to the Master of Design (Design
Anthropology) program and the Graduate Diploma of Design (Design
Anthropology) program is a bachelor degree with the equivalent of an
Australian system 60% grade average (or better) in a design, social
science (especially anthropology), humanities, information science or
human-computer interaction discipline.
The Master of Design (Design Anthropology) and the Graduate Diploma of
Design (Design Anthroplogy) also provide an entry point for applicants
who do not hold a degree but have at least eight years relevant industry
experience demonstrating potential to undertake work at this level.
Candidates for the MDes can apply via Swinburne. GradDip candidates can
apply via Swinburne or OUA.
What are the costs for 2011?
The per unit indicative course tuition fee for 2011 is $2100 Australian
Dollars. The indicative course tuition fee is $16800 Australian Dollars
for 2011, based on one year full time load (or 1 EFTSL). The total
tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected
by the student. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
Why should I apply now?
Honestly, the viability of the Design Anthropology programs at Swinburne
depends on having a strong cohort of students engaged in it. This is
important to the University, who has taken a risk in establishing the
program. It is important to our industry partners whofuture students. It is important to those of you who want to grow the
praxis of design anthropology.
Thanks,
Dori
Elizabeth (Dori) Tunstall, PhD
Associate Professor, Design Anthropology
Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching
Swinburne Design
Swinburne University of Technology
144 High Street, Prahran, VIC, 3181
Melbourne, Australia
Telephone +61 3 9214 6086
Facsimile +61 3 9521 2665
Mobile +61 4 0447 1595
Email [log in to unmask]
www.swinburne.edu.au/design
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