Designers have been using digital tools for many years; but most of these tools imitate traditional techniques such as drafting and layout. Increasingly, innovation in design is a result of using computers to do things that only computers can do.

This is digital design: a practice that engages deeply with digital processes, digital materials, and digital contexts.

Digital designers need to understand the fundamental elements of computing - data and algorithm - and work directly with them to create new processes, forms and practices.

The Master of Digital Design is a creative, studio-based program that will ground students in the fundamentals of digital design, introduce them to its principles and practice, and encourage them to apply new knowledge in their own specialist field.

Try your hand at generative design: grow your own logotype for the Master of Digital Design.

Key Approaches

Workshops in the MDD focus on three key approaches:

• Generative techniques: digital processes to create rich, dynamic forms.
  
• Data visualisation: data as a new material, and a crucial challenge, for design.
  
• Physical computing: linking digital processes and systems with the world beyond the screen.

Key Themes

Projects in the MDD are based on three themes with local and global relevance:

• the changing nature of the public sphere;
  
• the question of urban space; and
  
• the urgent challenge of sustainability.

Who is it For?

The Master of Digital Design is for people with existing qualifications or professional practice in any area of design, architecture, media arts, fine arts, or information technology. Previous computer programming experience is not required.

Flexible Delivery

The course will be delivered through a mixture of face-to-face intensives running several times per semester, and ongoing online work. This will allow increased flexibility for students, who need not live in the Canberra area to complete the course.

Integration with Master of Architecture

The MDD can be tightly integrated with UC's Master of Architecture; by undertaking MDD units in the elective stream of the MArch, students may be able to complete both Masters degrees in only five full-time semesters.

Master of Digital Design (Honours)

Students completing the course with merit may choose to continue to the MDD (Honours), a one-semester full-time research project that also provides a pathway into higher degrees by research.

http://www.canberra.edu.au/courses-units/m-

coursework/mddh

More Information

For further information on the course structure and applications, see: http://www.canberra.edu.au/courses-units/m-coursework/mdd

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For further enquiries contact Mitchell Whitelaw

Advisory Panel

The external advisory panel for the course is a stellar group of international digital designers. Their work demonstrates the strength and diversity of contemporary digital design.

• Karsten Schmidt is a London-based designer and software developer working across graphics, video, interaction and installation using generative systems. http://postspectacular.com
  
• Rory Hyde is a graduate architect with interests in digital design and urbanism. His PhD work at SIAL/RMIT was on digital design in small architectural practices. http://roryhyde.com
  
• Anthony Burke is a director of Offshore Studio, and an internationally recognised researcher in digital architectural practice; he leads the Master of Digital Architecture program at UTS, Sydney. http://offshorestudio.net
  
• FoAM is a transdisciplinary studio based in Brussels, for creative research into sustainable futures. http://f0.am
  
• Nervous System are Boston-based designers; using generative systems and digital fabrication, they create jewelry inspired by complex natural and computational geometries. http://n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com
• Supermanoeuvre is an architectural practice dedicated to advancing the application and theory of computational design.  The practice was cofounded in 2006 by Dave Pigram and Iain Maxwell and operates out of New York and London. http://supermanoeuvre.com

Staff

The staff teaching the MDD are a multidisplinary team with an international profile:

• Mitchell Whitelaw works across the theory and practice of generative design and data visualisation. His recent projects include data visualisation for the National Archives of Australia and generative design for a permanent exhibit at the John Curtin School of Medical Research. http://creative.canberra.edu.au/mitchell
  
• Stephen Barrass is an artist, designer and researcher with interests in data sonification, augmented reality and tangible and affective computing. His recent projects include The Welcome Space at the National Museum of Australia and ZiZi, the Affectionate Couch. http://stephenbarrass.wordpress.com
  
• Geoff Hinchcliffe is a designer with extensive experience spanning print, web and screen design. His recent work includes a cinematic Twitter visualisation: http://gravitron.com.au/twitter
  
• Sam Hinton teaches and researches in new media, with special interests in gaming, 3d graphics and networked cultures. He is also an accomplished graphics programmer. http://meetpi.edublogs.org