Cross-Cultural Design Strategy (11068.1)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Cross-Cultural Design Strategy
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
South Bank, QLD
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Arts And Design
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
School Of Design And The Built Environment Level 2 - Undergraduate Intermediate Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 2 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Cross-cultural design through the understanding of multiple practices and cultural perspectives is essential in the complex global marketplace. Cross-cultural design is the outcome of the transfer of knowledge that occurs when different cultures come together to design solutions to common 'wicked' or complex global problems. This unit looks at creating cross-cultural design strategies for a global audience. Students will prepare in-depth research into cross-cultural social issues to create relevant and culturally appropriate design solutions that explore symbolism, colour, communication and awareness in relation to culturally specific briefs.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Analyse and interpret a cross-culturally relevant design strategy brief;
2. Apply research and analysis cross-cultural design strategies for a global audience;
3. Integrate cultural intelligence in industry relevant applications; and
4. Communicate an innovative and creative idea with clarity and visual impact.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology


Prerequisites

11062 Visual Communication Theory and Principles AND 11063 Principles of Typography and Layout

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Dr Emma Phillips
2025 South Bank, QLD Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Mrs Ola Pak
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Emma Phillips
2026 South Bank, QLD Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Mrs Ola Pak
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Barnard, Malcolm (2005) Graphic Design as Communication, New York: Routledge

Brown, Tim (2009), Change by Design, New York: Harper Collins.

Peng, Fanke. & Scharoun, Lisa (2016) Cross-Cultural Design, Beijing: Publishing House of Electronics Industry 

Peterson, L.K. and Cullen, Cheryl (2000) Global Graphic: Colour, Mass: Rockport.

Place, A. (2022) Design as a practice of care: Feminist perspectives on preventing harm and promoting healing through design, in Lockton, D., Lenzi, S., Hekkert, P., Oak, A., Sa¿daba, J., Lloyd, P. (eds.), DRS2022: Bilbao, 25 June - 3 July, Bilbao, Spain. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2022.713

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Generative AI

Please refer to assessment instructions regarding using generative AI such as (but not limited to) Chat GPT, Co-Pilot in this unit. 

Late Policy for this unit

 

Resubmission

 

This unit has substantial opportunities for feedback and self-assessment, and so students who have fully participated in the unit activities are unlikely to fail. In some cases, resubmission of a failed assignment will be possible if the assessment item can feasibly be brought up to a pass level. A typical example might be an assignment that fails due to a missing component that can readily be supplied in a resubmission. The maximum grade for a resubmitted assessment item is 50%. Resubmissions are given at the discretion of the unit convenor, and must be applied for in writing (via email) within one week of the assessment grade being released.

 

Extensions

 

All extensions must be applied for in writing to the unit convenor before the due date of the assignment, and preferably well before this. Extension requests should state the reason the extension is being requested and include a medical certificate (unless the basis for extension is part of adjustment advice from inclusion and welfare), and provide a proposed submission date. Students should not assume an extension will be automatically granted.

 

Late Penalties

In this unit, we encourage you to be proactive about your work, to recognise early if you are not going to be able to meet a deadline, and to negotiate an extension if necessary. This is a more authentic, industry standard, approach to dealing with deadlines.

 

Your mark will be reduced by 10%  per day up to and including three calendar days following the due date/approved extension/ reasonable adjustment.

Late submissions will result in reduced feedback being provided.

 

Students will be allocated a mark of zero if submitting more than three calendar days late (without approved extension or reasonable adjustment), with no feedback provided.

 

A student who does not undertake, submit or participate in a summative assessment, or who does not attend a timetabled exam without an approved deferral, will be allocated a mark of zero.

 

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

Students who attend campus for class or other purposes must play their part in keeping our campus and community safe by following these basic guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission:

  • Practise good hand hygiene, washing hands regularly;
  • If you do happen to cough or sneeze, please do so into the crook of your elbow, dispose of tissues immediately and wash hands immediately
  • Practise effective physical distancing;
  • Follow all directions of teaching and other UC staff regarding safety measures;
  • Stay off campus if you are unwell and get tested according to QLD Government guidelines, and 
  • Follow University communications about campus arrangements

Required IT skills

Students should have knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite of programs.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Next step

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