Humanities and Social Sciences
Design
Department of Design
Credit requirements
Minimum credits
10 Minor Core
4 Elective Basket 1
4 Elective Basket 2
18 Total Credits
Credits to choose
10 Minor Core
4 Elective Basket 1
4 Elective Basket 2
18 Total Credits
Selection rate
100% Minor Core
50% Elective Basket 1
50% Elective Basket 2
Undergraduate students from other disciplines Open to
Product Design track or Visual Communication track Tracks
Core courses (for all majors) — 10 credits, all required
Design Practice 1 / Design Project 1
Design Practice 2 / Design Project 2
Total
Elective baskets — choose one course from each basket (4 credits each)
Elective Basket 1 — Visual Communication Design
Visual Communication 1
Visual Communication 2
Elective Basket 2 — Product Design
Human Centered Design Methods
Human Factors Engineering
The two pathways for the Design Minor (18 credits either way)
Semester 3
- Product Design track
- DES1001 / DES102 Elements and Principles of Visual Design
- Visual Communication track
- DES1001 / DES102 Elements and Principles of Visual Design
Semester 4
- Product Design track
- DES1008 / DES109 Human Centered Design Methods
- Visual Communication track
- DES1007 / DES108 Visual Communication 1
Semester 5
- Product Design track
- DES2008 / DES210 Design Practice 1 / Design Project 1
- Visual Communication track
- DES2008 / DES210 Design Practice 1 / Design Project 1
Semester 6
- Product Design track
- DES2003 / DES205 Human Factors Engineering
- Visual Communication track
- DES2002 / DES204 Visual Communication 2
Semester 7
- Product Design track
- DES3003 / DES303 Design Practice 2 / Design Project 2
- Visual Communication track
- DES3003 / DES303 Design Practice 2 / Design Project 2
Good to know
- Structure
- Minor Core (10 credits) + one course from Elective Basket 1 (4 credits) + one course from Elective Basket 2 (4 credits)
Fine print
- A student takes one course from each elective basket, and may not take more than two courses at the 1000 level.
Why pursue this
- Exposure to design as a field of study, equipping students for further study or competitive examinations in design.
- Transdisciplinary skills through collaboration in multidisciplinary groups, breaking down disciplinary boundaries.
- A Design Thinking approach — a human-centred method emphasising empathy, ideation, prototyping and iteration, applicable within any discipline.
What you'll come out with
- Students will develop a foundational understanding of design as a field of study and its relevance in contemporary society and industry.
- Students will acquire knowledge and application skills of visual language, enabling effective communication across diverse design domains.
- Students will understand the human-centred nature of design and gain familiarity with key design methods, processes and techniques.
- Students will develop practical skills in creative problem-solving through collaborative, multidisciplinary teamwork.
From the University's minor program documents. Confirm with your UG Advisor before you plan around a pathway.