
MSc Urban Design and International Planning / Course details
Year of entry: 2024
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Course unit details:
Design Dissertation [UDIP]
Unit code | PLAN60660 |
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Credit rating | 60 |
Unit level | FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree |
Teaching period(s) | Full year |
Offered by | Planning and Environmental Management |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
The course unit will have the following content:
- Introduction to the applied urban design dissertation approach
- Introduction to design by enquiry approach and other related urban design methodologies
- How to develop a design dissertation proposal
- The urban design dissertation structure – Introduction / analysis / design / evaluate
- Secondary research – literature review / policy / best practice case studies / development / statistics
- Primary research – urban design analysis techniques and approaches / contextual appraisals / opportunities and constraints qualitative and quantitative methods (including consultation and engagement).
- The design strategic framework and principles – It development, role, and application.
- Concepts / options / testing design (including design by enquiry)
- Detailing the design proposal
- Evaluating the scheme
- Presenting the design project
- Crits and peer-review.
- Supervisory and technical support sessions.
Pre/co-requisites
Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
MSc Urban Design and International Planning Dissertation | PLAN60560 | Co-Requisite | Compulsory |
Aims
The course unit aims to:
- Provide students with an opportunity to plan, manage and conduct a programme of research on a urban design applied project;
- Further students’ knowledge of a relevant body of literature, and to develop powers of critical reasoning
- Allow students to explore and evaluate international best practice urban design
- Develop fully students’ knowledge of, and competence in, an appropriate range of design research methods, including the development of a study proposal, an appreciation of urban design led methodologies and analytical techniques, development of clear design principles and objectives, the undertaking of a specific design project, the synthesis and evaluation of the design process, and a clear statement of conclusions.
- Develop student understanding and skills in design by enquiry process and delivery of final design proposal
- Develop students’ design, graphic, visual presentation and bibliographic skills; and
- Develop students’ experience of developing and managing a specific programme of work through to final submission.
Teaching and learning methods
The course unit will utilise a variety of pedagogical approaches including:
- Regular studio workshops
- Studio crits (with formative feedback)
- Peer-led design review
- The online urban design toolkit
- Regular tutorial teaching
- Technical applied design skills workshops
- Oral presentations
- Design surgeries
Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and Understanding:
- Demonstrate an understand the applied urban design process
- Employ knowledge and understanding of how to integrate academic research into an applied design process
- Consider multiple strategic scenarios and design options through a design by enquiry research approach
- Demonstrate an understanding of the multi-disciplinary nature of large scale urban project delivery and feasibility
Intellectual skills
Intellectual Skills:
- To integrate and apply urban design theory, best practice, and primary analysis in a real-world design-led scenario.
- To apply the urban design process from appraisal to delivery.
- To be able to successfully evaluate design options against strategic frameworks and wider consultation for contextually responsive design solutions
- To develop and demonstrate professional level design presentation and visualisation skills.
Practical skills
Practical Skills:
- Develop a design project from early analysis to completion and post-occupancy evaluation.
- Utilise advanced design software skills and presentation techniques
- Employ design by enquiry approaches to design project development
- Ability to critique design and self-evaluate design concepts and proposals.
- To articulate and justify design choices both visually and orally.
Transferable skills and personal qualities
Transferable Skills and Personal Qualities:
- Use of Adobe creative suite; AutoCAD; Sketch-up; urban sketching; and physical modelling to present and test ideas and concepts.
- Ability to independently deliver a comprehensive urban design project to a deadline
- Presentational skills, both visual and oral.
- Progress to employment, developing the knowledge and skills required for a professional planning/urban design career
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
---|---|
Report | 90% |
Oral assessment/presentation | 10% |
Written report (Aims & Objectives/Method and Structure/Literature/Policy) - 3000 words and Urban Design Project Delivery (A1 boards plus 3D physical model 1:1000) - Max 8 x A1 boards [90%]
Oral design defence of final project - 20 minutes [10%]
Feedback methods
Written feedback on the dissertation will be provided on publication of final degree results
Recommended reading
Barton H et al Shaping Neighbourhoods 711.001/B154
Carmona M & Tiesdell S Urban Design Reader 771.4 C374
English Partnerships Urban Design Compendium 729/E3 – also available online
Kostof S, The City Shaped and The City Assembled 711.4/K240
Larice, M. and Macdondald, E. (2013). The Urban Design Reader. Routledge, London
Moor M & Rowland J Urban Design Futures 711.4/M442
Urban Design Group, Graphics for Urban Design 711.4/M446
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Practical classes & workshops | 15 |
Project supervision | 32 |
Supervised time in studio/wksp | 40 |
Tutorials | 3 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 510 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
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Philip Black | Unit coordinator |