Module manager: Professor Lisa-Dionne Morris
Email: L.D.Morris@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
The module is closely aligned to aspects of design and technological awareness, and contemporary influences on design. The module reflects the importance given to developing students' abilities to recognise that design and technological activities are inextricably linked. In this module students will develop the skills associated with 'value judgements'. These skills are an essential part of the product design development process.
The objective of the module is to develop students' learning through product analysis, in order that, students can learn how to develop and refine skills of:
- investigation
- research
- evaluation.
This will enable students to make informed decisions and draw upon considered views about design and technological developments.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes:
1. recognise the role design and material culture plays in society over a given period
2. demonstrate knowledge of key concepts and theories related to design movements and design history
3. demonstrate knowledge of key concepts and theories related to material culture
4. demonstrate knowledge of processes by which designs are produced, disseminated and received
5. define key concepts from ergonomics, anthropometrics and user-centred design
6. conduct usability analyses using the 'Evaluation Systems' approach
7. apply ergonomic and anthropometric data in user-centred design analysis and synthesis in the context of a product development process
8. recognise how current user centred design research might impact future product design practice, for example, in designing for people with disabilities and aging populations.
These module learning outcomes contribute to the following AHEP4 learning outcomes:
9. Adopt a holistic and proportionate approach to the mitigation of security risks (B10).
10. Recognise the responsibilities, benefits and importance of supporting equality, diversity and inclusion (B11).
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills:
a. Information searching
b. Digital learning and development
c. Critical thinking
Syllabus Content A
- Introduction to ergonomics, anthropometrics and user-centred design
- Design for People
- Usability analysis and the 'Evaluation Systems' approach
- Man-Machine: Ergonomic Case Study
- Gathering Ergonomic Data
- Human Factors and Anthropometrics
- Terminology for Ergonomics, Anthropometry (Static and dynamic Dimensions, Percentiles, Arrangement of Workspaces (Layout, Precision Working, Envelope Design, Safety at Work, Movement and Handling)
- People: Machine Systems (Information and Display, Symbols Design and Graphics, Lettering and Typographic, Products, Controls, Systems and Orientation.
Insights into User Centred Design innovation, user focus groups, human factors, user research will be provided, and students will gain experience of using ergonomic data in design project work.
Syllabus Content B
- The Rise of the Consumer
- Status & Consumption
- Referencing research
- Post Modern Culture
- Modernism
- Semiotics
- Customisation/Appropriation
- Mass Consumption
- Marketing.
Methods of assessment
The assessment details for this module will be provided at the start of the academic year
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fieldwork | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Seminar | 14 | 2 | 28 |
| Independent online learning hours | 72 | ||
| Private study hours | 90 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 38 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
- Students' progress will be monitored in tutorials.
- In these sessions design portfolio work and drafts of reflective reports will be reviewed.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 02/05/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team