designX 2023
16 November – 1 December 2023
Discover the passion and talent of over 700 graduating students as we launch the 2023 designX showcase to celebrate the work produced in our 12 Capstone Bachelor of Design subjects.
The designX showcase transforms the basement of the Glyn Davis Building with an exciting display of design work from students majoring in Architecture, Civil Engineering Systems, Computing and Software Systems, Construction, Digital Infrastructure Engineering Systems, User Experience Design, Graphic Design, Landscape Architecture, Mechanical Engineering Systems, Performance Design, Property, and Urban Planning.
The exhibition features a multi-faceted display of experimental and transdisciplinary approaches to design from speculative visions to real-world problems.
Exhibition dates
16 November – 1 December 2023
Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 7:00pm
Basement, Glyn Davis Building
The Glyn Davis Building is wheelchair accessible. If you have any questions about your visit don't hesitate to email us at: msd-exhibitions@unimelb.edu.au
Please do not come to campus if you are feeling unwell.
For more on designX and our other exhibitions follow @msdsocial
Bachelor of Design Pathways
Architecture: Design Studio Epsilon
Informed by the theme ‘Beyond Housing’, Studio Epsilon seeks new housing solutions that are better suited to current societal needs, pursuing housing models that provide communal amenities and integrate diverse uses. We focus on how people might live closer together and how design can provide innovative and lasting solutions to support communal living.
Civil Engineering Systems: Geotechnical Modelling and Design
Solving design problems while considering multiple and sometimes conflicting design criteria, Geotechnical Modelling and Design strengthens fundamental soil mechanics knowledge and intensively expands practical geotechnical engineering knowledge and modelling skills. Modern geotechnical computer modelling software is used to simulate practical engineering design problems.
Computing: IT Project
In this subject students work on a real life problem in small teams. Each team analyses the information needs of users and develops working computational solutions. Teams analyse, design, implement and test a non-trivial IT system developing and managing a project to deliver a quality IT product.
Construction: Industry Partner Project Studio
This subject builds on an understanding of construction technologies and introduces project management concepts. A design proposal is translated into operational construction and project management plans, where decision making can be explored from concept through to completion. Details of project environment, construction systems, resource constraints, production processes, and management tools and methods are engaged toward efficient project plan development.
Digital Infrastructure Engineering Systems: Integrated Spatial Systems
Addressing real world problems this subject focuses on finding solutions to the environmental, economic, and social dilemmas of the 21st century by using an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach. The subject explores positioning technologies and measurement integration, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), distributed spatial computing and mapping, web mapping, and location-based services.
User Experience Design: Interactive Technology Project
Students work in teams to develop and evaluate a novel proposal for a new interactive technology or new application of existing technologies. Groups identify and analyse an existing situation of use, develop a design concept, and a digital prototype. Evaluation of the prototype and an interpretation of findings leads to business case proposals.
Graphic Design: Graphic Design Studio 3
Fast-paced, dynamic, and chaotic, this immersive subject reflects the reality of working in a design studio environment by encouraging students to become critical thinkers, versatile practitioners, and willing collaborators. Experimental outcomes without limitations on form and a clear articulation of process are foregrounded, while a socially engaged and reflective graphic design practice is fostered.
Landscape Architecture: Landscape Sudio - Designed Ecologies
This subject is framed by contemporary agendas in landscape architecture, including climate change and how landscapes evolve. Students have designed a large park on Melbourne’s outer edge. The designed form and park experiences draw on the unique qualities of the sites’ Australian landscape. In further developing the design ideas, the interventions also respond to a speculated future to consider how landscape design can work with dynamic site conditions, climate, ecology and users.
Mechanical Systems: Mechanical Systems Design
This subject explores how machines work. Students apply conceptual engineering design processes in the realisation of an autonomous mechanical system that combines mechanical with electronic elements. The design process incorporates concept evaluation against associated environmental, socio-economic, and human factors, including safety considerations. This year the outcome was an Interactive Pet.
Performance Design: Performance Design Studio
Using the play Orlando by Sarah Ruhl, adapted from the novel by Virginia Woolf, this capstone studio explores how space, integrated with figure, light, and sound, are shaped, distorted, or manipulated to help tell a story. These four performance design disciplines are used as dramaturgical tools in the creation of a performance and become the engines of new sensory experiences for an audience.
Property: Design & Property Studio
In teams, students investigate, analyse, and deliver a recommendation to a client as to whether a development proposal for a site should be pursued, through preparation of a detailed feasibility report and a series of staged oral presentations to a ‘Board of Directors’. Sites are assessed on economic, site, physical, town planning, social, and market research factors, simulating investigations by industry to produce initial high-level business cases.
Urban Planning: Urban Precinct Studio
Building on team efforts in site analysis and visioning, each student makes their own precinct structure plan that provides precinct-scale solution to urban challenges observed in both global and local settings. The “client”, usually a team of local government planners, brings to class multiple precinct sites which need timely attention of planners for developing healthy, liveable, and resilient cities. Student proposals demonstrate creativity in applying fundamental planning concepts, theories, and rigorous analysis methods to the formulation of urban design and planning frameworks for managing real-life complexities by urban planners.