These assignments are designed to develop students understanding of the wider aspects of design and its impact upon the world we live in. Remember, Design impacts upon the past, the present and the future.

They are intended to be challenging and though provoking, and sometimes difficult to resolve, where there is no correct answer, just a viewpoint.

These can be delivered either as a home learning experience or as a class based activity. However, when you use them, it would be essential to have some form of an initial class-based discussion or presentation to set the scene.

Then, when the assignments are completed it would be important to share what conclusions people have come to and the reasons behind them.

Although these are aimed at older students, mainly Post-16, with a little adjustment and planning they could easily be used at KS4 as a thought provoking and enhancement experience.

These can enrich both a design student’s understanding of design, as well as the importance of design in our world.

Reflection Tasks:

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• What is Design? what do people understand by design. What is its impact, its importance and how does it relates to the world and our lives. Why is it one of the most important subjects on the curriculum?

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• Students consider why high-rise living in the UK seems to be failing, why does it have such a bad reputation, whilst in other countries it seems to be key to their city living and housing Does it have anything to offer and should we be looking at from a different viewpoint?

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• A major infrastructure project, which some are crying out for, whilst others hate it. The lines are drawn up, and there seems to be many people with a view on it. But do people understand long term implications or benefits of such a project.

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• A housing complex in Sheffield, is it a utopia or is it hell? Does it address the needs of those you live there or is it an excuse for self-indulgence by the architects and the builders when it was constructed. Does it really have a future?

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• A major disaster on every front, but what do we do? Is it perhaps better to let it go or should it be restored, whatever the cost. Can a compromise be made or is that a step to far? Is there any way that a way forward can be found.

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