°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼
TG2DPD: Discourse and Professional Development
Module code: TG2DPD
Module provider: Typography; School of Arts and Comm Design
Credits: 20
Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)
When you'll be taught: Semester 2
Module convenor: Mr Geoff Wyeth, email: g.m.wyeth@reading.ac.uk
Pre-requisite module(s):
Co-requisite module(s):
Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):
Module(s) excluded:
Placement information: NA
Academic year: 2024/5
Available to visiting students: No
Talis reading list: Yes
Last updated: 5 August 2024
Overview
Module aims and purpose
This module functions as a combination of the second halves of two existing modules (TG2PD and TG2DD), as means of allowing returning study abroad students, who have been away for Semester 1, to pick up their studies in these crucial areas.Â
Scheduled classes and activities will be almost identical to TG2PD and TG2DD.Â
In work linked to the Design Discourse module, you will engage with graphic design history, theory and thinking to explore the ideas that underpin contemporary design practice. Through weekly critical reading, discourse and scholarly study you will interrogate the history of graphic communication, discuss key theories, analyse contemporary debates, practice visual analysis and discover research in design. This module introduces you to core research methods and prepares you for writing your dissertation.Â
It is linked to the practice projects and will help you to build a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, ecological and political contexts that surround the discipline. This will strengthen your critical engagement with typography and communication design as a rational, evidence-based, communication-focused activity. The examination of diverse theoretical and historical perspectives will allow you to evaluate alternative points of view, build communication skills and develop your own position – and ultimately enable you to become a literate and reflective designer.Â
In work linked to the Professional Deveopment module you will experience the common industry practice of design contests, and tutors will work with you to develop your entries. There is also a focus on how printed objects are produced, both in an industrial setting, and in a studio crafting environment.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:Â
- Identify and analyse graphic artefacts: Interrogate and assess visual communication in its cultural, technical, and historical environments and contexts.Â
- Seek and assimilate new knowledge: Assess and incorporate contemporary discourse into design thinking. Â
- Organise visual content: Create effective and engaging design solutions by demonstrating an understanding of how people process and react to graphic and typographic content.Â
- Employ technologies appropriately: Select and harness traditional, current and emerging technologies and crafts.  Â
Module content
Content is drawn from Semester 2 of the Design Discourse and Professional Development modules.
Design Discourse builds visual and academic research skills that span across communication design history, theory and practice. It prepares students for developing a research-intensive dissertation in typography and graphic communication. Â
Each delivery of the module will typically contain a range of themes, covering topics such as: the making of graphic design history, graphic design theory, decolonising graphic design, critical writing, language and typography, semiotics and graphic meaning-making, graphic design for social change, ethical, inclusive, sustainable and user-centred design.  Â
You will be asked to read weekly, participate in discussion groups, reflect on your reading in a learning journal, give one presentation per semester, and write one essay.Â
The module concludes with a series of sessions for dissertation preparation focussing on how to locate and assemble information, review literature, use appropriate methodologies, organise material and articulate effectively in written form.Â
Professional Development contains distinct strands to support different areas of career development. Â
- Practical project linked to a design contest Â
- Learning about a range of professional printing and making technologies, and how they can be simulated in a design studio.Â
Structure
Teaching and learning methods
Design Discourse covers multiple themes and topics. These will be explored in depth through a combination of lectures, self-directed study and reading, seminars, discussion groups, workshops, exercises, student presentations, handouts, learning journals and essay writing. Towards the end of semester 2 the dissertation preparation will provide the basis for a series of tutorial meetings with supervisors where contact hours will be determined by agreement between student and supervisor.Â
Professional Development will be delivered through a series of workshops and in-person check-in sessions. Classes may involve group work, some of which may be assessed.Â
Study hours
At least 33.5 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.
 Scheduled teaching and learning activities |  Semester 1 |  Semester 2 | Ìý³§³Ü³¾³¾±ð°ù |
---|---|---|---|
Lectures | 10.5 | ||
Seminars | 8 | ||
Tutorials | 1 | ||
Project Supervision | |||
Demonstrations | |||
Practical classes and workshops | 4 | ||
Supervised time in studio / workshop | |||
Scheduled revision sessions | |||
Feedback meetings with staff | 18 | ||
Fieldwork | |||
External visits | |||
Work-based learning | |||
 Self-scheduled teaching and learning activities |  Semester 1 |  Semester 2 | Ìý³§³Ü³¾³¾±ð°ù |
---|---|---|---|
Directed viewing of video materials/screencasts | |||
Participation in discussion boards/other discussions | |||
Feedback meetings with staff | |||
Other | 27 | ||
Other (details) | Self-directed study and reading and scheduled unsupervised studio time | ||
 Placement and study abroad |  Semester 1 |  Semester 2 | Ìý³§³Ü³¾³¾±ð°ù |
---|---|---|---|
Placement | |||
Study abroad | |||
 Independent study hours |  Semester 1 |  Semester 2 | Ìý³§³Ü³¾³¾±ð°ù |
---|---|---|---|
Independent study hours | 131.5 |
Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.
Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.
Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.
Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.
Assessment
Requirements for a pass
Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.
Summative assessment
Type of assessment | Detail of assessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of assessment | Submission date | Additional information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Artefact production | Design contest | 50 | Semester 2, Teaching Week 8 | A project may require a written coursework assignment, journal, and/or presentation as part of the submission. | |
Written coursework assignment | Essay | 50 | 3,000-3,500 words | Semester 2, Assessment Week 1 |
Penalties for late submission of summative assessment
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:
Assessments with numerical marks
- where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
- the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
- where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
- where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.
Assessments marked Pass/Fail
- where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
- where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.
The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.
Formative assessment
Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.
Formative assessment will usually fall into two categories:Â
- Tasks and feedback that link directly to final assessment, allowing you to build relevant skills and measure your progress towards assessed work.Â
- Tasks and feedback that feed into wider learning around the topic being covered. The skills and insights you acquire should help you achieve well in assessed tasks, but application of this leaning may be interpreted, rather than simply repeated.Â
Formative feedback will often include:Â
- Verbal feedback in class.Â
- Written comments on a piece of work.Â
- Self, peer of staff assessment against a mark scheme.Â
Formative feedback will be given:Â
- During reading groupsÂ
- At dedicated check-in pointsÂ
- At scheduled feedback/studio sessionsÂ
Reassessment
Type of reassessment | Detail of reassessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of reassessment | Submission date | Additional information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Artefact production | Design contest | 50 | During the University Resit Period | A project may require a written coursework assignment, journal, and/or presentation as part of the submission. | |
Written coursework assignment | Essay | 50 | 3,000-3,500 words | During the University Resit Period |
Additional costs
Item | Additional information | Cost |
---|---|---|
Computers and devices with a particular specification | You will need access to Adobe Creative cloud on your personal computer. You will need to pay for an annual license (approx. £100 per year), but you will be able to use this software across many of the modules you take this year. You will only need to pay for one license per year. | |
Required textbooks | ||
Specialist equipment or materials | ||
Specialist clothing, footwear, or headgear | ||
Printing and binding | ||
Travel, accommodation, and subsistence |
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT'S CONTRACT.