Dates and rubrics
Last updated
Last updated
There are two assignments associated with the themes Generative Design and Parametric Design that aim to motivate students to practice both computation and design. There is a third assignment relating to Simulated Design that will be part of a 2D project. Important dates related to these assignments are listed below. Note that deadlines are set at the end of the listed day. Submissions must be uploaded using the central SUTD student portal – EDimension [].
Start Date
23rd September
3rd October
Parametric Design
7th October
18th October
Simulated Design
Week 11
11th December
While the course is credited with Pass/Fail mark there are grades aimed at providing performance feedback. Design assignments are not evaluated in an objective manner as in mathematics, where correctness is depersonalized; instead they are assessed via peer-review, based on expertise, experience and domain knowledge represented by the course instructors.
Computation: Sophistication of approach and depth of process development.
Design: Creativity with emphasis on conceptual design and product outcome.
Presentation: Effectiveness of literary and visual communication using media.
Computation
40%
Design
40%
Presentation
20%
Design assignments do not aim to evaluate your percentile compliance in executing prescribed procedures or perceived effort committed; they measure the results and process efficacy. As this may be your first experience in design, computational or otherwise, we list below a few self-evaluation guidelines.
The objective of computation is to capture thought processes in an explicit medium which become depersonalized and a shared part of knowledge. We may evaluate the clarity, depth, playfulness, curiosity and sophistication of a computational process by observing its structure, complexity, performance and comprehensibility.
Attempts to translate thought processes embodied into computational constructs from first principles in the sense of algorithmic thinking.
Generic use of prefabricated utilities, replication of online ready-made visual programming definitions, lack of sense of originality.
Ability to compose hierarchically deep logical structures and organize abstractions in procedures or data by detecting common patterns.
Preference of brute force approach to computing, use of copy & paste logic, verbose implementations, spaghetti graphs, it works therefore it is correct attitudes.
Use of computation is integral to the design process and outcome from the perspective of creative experimentation, generative qualities, measurement of design performance, parameter control, automation of work, result optimization.
Computation and design are disjoint resulting into non-design outcomes or no-purpose computation such as use of computing for decorative purposes or unnecessarily complex computation for tasks easier performed manually.
Shows appreciation and understanding of mathematics and geometry via expressing concise relationships and elegant associative constructions in building abstract models.
Inability to model conceptually abstract relationships such as order, hierarchy, proportionality, dependence etc. Use of geometry as visual graphical shapes devoid of reason.
Demonstration of the hacker’s attitude as in thinking outside of the box, lateral thinking in approaching challenges, stretching the limits of the machine, identifying corner cases and exploiting the medium.
Lack of understanding of the medium’s capabilities and limitations, use of computing as faster calculator or smarter spreadsheet, demonstrable lack of understanding basic computing concepts.
The objective of design is to bridge the world of creative abstract ideas living in our mind with the shared world of unique artifacts as their embodiment. Design reflects the intellectual aptitude, sensibilities and personality of its creator. Design illuminates facets of life that were previously unknown or overlooked. Design offers a new perspective or interpretation for others to consider and change theirs.
The design offers fragments of novelty and personal interpretation of the brief beyond conventional wisdom.
The design replicates banal and stereotypical social norms without hint of reflective or critical thinking.
The design is inclusive allowing for multiple interpretations and audience to associate and project their imagination.
One-dimensional, marketing grade slogan, intellectual one-liner or sound bite, demonstrates shallow thinking.
Experimental and inquisitive attitude demonstrates creativity, curiosity and desire to propose something specific, unique and genuinely interesting other people should care about.
Following instructions mindlessly towards the completion of given tasks up to minimum standards compliance by replicating provided materials and arrival at indifferent outcomes.
The complexity of the outcome demonstrates proportionality between means and ends.
The outcome can be dismissed as simplistic ie. too reductive or overly complicated ie. unnecessarily verbose.
The design outcome demonstrates understanding of contextual opportunities and limitations creatively embedded, overcome or entertained.
The design outcome demonstrates inability to accommodate explicit or implied contextual parameters or evidences uncritical compromise.
The objective of developing presentation skills is communication for academic and professional purposes. Your aim is to foremost demonstrate clarity of thought by conveying the important message without making people feel lost in information; organizational capabilities via showing you can structure a complex sequence of thoughts coherently to guide the audience and tastefulness by demonstrating consistent, coherent and appropriate style and effort expended of visuals.
Consistent quality across entire presentation, content value, information density and visual style, demonstrates meticulous attitude, respect for your audience and desire to communicate.
Uneven or haphazard slide quality through presentation demonstrates lazy attitudes, poor discipline and low care for your audience.
Well structured content and logical order of sequence of thoughts hints for intellectually organized, deeper understanding of content and care for the audience to also understand.
Content in illogical order shows lack of organizational skills, low understanding of the content itself or lack of care for whether the audience can arrive as the same conclusions, if any.
Use of formal language and style of referencing other people’s works demonstrates maturity in appropriately addressing the audience and acknowledging social, literary and academic norms worthy of university educated.
Colloquial language, typos, grammatical mistakes, demonstrate lack of maturity or care for approaching other people, resulting in making bad impressions, rendering your work dismissable, even though the content may be valuable and worth sharing.
High quality imagery, framing and composition, without need for excessive effort in graphics, shows understanding of style aiming to elevate the content without making visuals the value of the presentation itself but instead clearly communicating the core ideas.
Point and shoot pics, selfies, poorly cropped, bad margins, low-res screen shots, clip-art, logos, cute emojis etc. show lack of understanding the power of visual communication, lack of taste, and low respect for the audience, especially if design trained.
Simple, clear, effective typography using minimal amount effort just highlight the important part of the content without being in the way, shows care for content delivery.
Inspirational use of typefaces, sizes and font accents shows misguided effort put in graphic design amateur acrobatics instead of valuable time spent on the actual content value.