Other Unrestricted Electives (UEs)
Semester 1
Sustainable Innovation: Design & Transformation Strategies
4 units each (ID5360)
This course introduces students to the core principles of sustainable innovation, with a strong focus on circular economy - design and business strategies. It explores the urgent need for transitioning from linear models to circular systems, highlighting design’s critical role in enabling sustainable practices.
Students will gain practical skills in developing sustainable product-service systems. Through in-class activities and collaborative group projects, they will apply circular, or lifecycle-based design approaches—from initial concept development to crafting actionable implementation strategies. The course also explores the importance of collaboration across supply chains, a vital component for bringing circular innovation to life.
To support informed design decisions, students will explore the importance and key approaches to impact assessment, introducing tools such as Life Cycle Assessments (LCA). By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to make meaningful contributions to sustainable innovation.
Design for Healthy Living
4 units each (ID5361)
This course is about the psychological underpinnings of behaviour change directed to making improvements to people's physical and mental health. This includes: motivational theories, persuasion, decision making (including theory on consumer behaviour as well as on biases), positive psychology (flourishing), ecological psychology (affordances), mindfulness and gamification. Many examples of design projects will be shown that utilised any of the psychological principles in the development of their designs. Some attention will also be paid to the brain and brain activity. There is growing evidence from emotional and cognitive neuroscience that internal and external reflection opportunities that nurture personal growth and community bonds.
Semester 2
Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing
4 units each (ID5357)
This graduate seminar examines the principles of research design and diverse methods for designing social technologies. It explores epistemological orientations, ranging from positivism to constructivism and interpretivism, as well as critical perspectives. With a focus on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), it covers core research methods vital for technology design. Through discussions and readings, students will gain an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of HCI and design research.
ID5363 Advanced Interaction Design: Human-Centered AI & Emerging Technologies
4 units each (ID5363)
Advanced Interaction Design: Human-Centred AI & Emerging Technologies delves into the theoretical and practical aspects of designing human-centred interactions within the context of rapidly evolving technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging interfaces. Building upon foundational UI/UX principles, this course explores advanced interaction paradigms, ethical considerations, and research methodologies relevant to intelligent systems, multimodal interactions, and tangible/spatial computing. Students will engage in critical analysis, speculative design, and applied research projects, culminating in a substantial individual project that addresses a real-world challenge in Human-AI interaction.
Independent Study for Graduate Design Research
4 units each (ID5359)
This course is tailored for graduate design students who wish to deeply investigate a topic within design. Students are required to collaborate with a faculty member to identify and define a specific research topic, along with relevant readings and assignments. A formal written agreement will be established, outlining the topic, study plan, assignments, evaluation criteria, and other essential details, subject to approval by the Head of Department.
The course focuses on self-directed learning by the students, guided through regular meetings with the supervising lecturer, as well as progress reports. This course offers a unique opportunity for graduate design students to explore specialised areas of interest and push the boundaries of design practice and theory.
Pre-requisite: ID5358
Semester 1 and 2
Design Research Immersion Programme
4 units each (ID5358)
This course offers graduate students an opportunity to engage in academic research under the guidance of faculty members. Students will apply and expand upon concepts from their coursework to tackle complex, open-ended questions and real-world challenges in research projects. Throughout the course, students will learn to develop and refine research questions, design and execute studies using appropriate methodologies, analyse data, draw insightful conclusions, collaborate with various academic and industry partners and articulate their findings in a well-documented written report.
Special Term Part 1 and 2
Integrated Design Internship
4 units each (ID5362)
This 12-week internship course provides students with valuable industry experience before graduation, bridging their academic learning experience with real-world practice. A complementary component of the Master of Design in Integrated Design (MDes) programme, this course enables students to work in design and innovation roles across diverse sectors, including public, private, and social enterprises as well as start-ups and NGOs.
Internship opportunities might span a wide range of industries, from technology and financial services to healthcare, service industries, tourism and hospitality, mobility, or sustainability. Through hands-on experience, students will deepen their understanding of design’s role in different sectors, build professional networks, and develop essential skills for their future careers.
Other Unrestricted Electives (UEs)
4 units each
Supplementing your design education, Unrestricted Electives allow students to explore greater breadth or depth in any subject and at any level. Students may use these courses to explore or build a stronger foundation in their chosen area of interest such as business, computer science, engineering, communication, etc.
MDes students may utilise the Submit Course Requests function during CourseReg to request for non-programme requirement courses (i.e. cross-faculty courses). The request will go through a two-step approval process: it is first routed to the home department for decision before approved requests are routed to the course host(s) for final assessment.
There is only one round of Submit Course Requests each semester. Please refer to the schedule here.
With effect from Sem 1, AY2022/2023, Graduate Coursework (GDC) students taking non-programme requirement courses from self-funded (i.e. non-subsidised) programmes might be charged course fee for the course. Please contact the course host for more information.
For more information, do refer to the information available here.