Rob Saunders
Lecturer in Design Computing

Teaching

The units of study that I teach is influenced by my background and my research: my background is in computer science and artificial intelligence; my research is in computational modelling of creativity.

2008

Design Programming (DECO1012/DECO2011)

The aim of this unit of study is to introduce students to computer programming, both as a tool for design computing and as a medium of expression in digital media. This unit of study will focus on the practical application of computer programming as a way to expand the students' abilities to use computers in creative design and research tasks.

NOTE: Programming is so important to modern design that we're moving the Design Programming from 2nd to 1st year. Consequently, for this year only I'm running Design Programming as DECO1012 and DECO2011 in parallel.

Web pages: DECO1012/DECO2011

Creative Systems (DESC9176)

The aim of this unit of study is to introduce students to the use of creative systems in design. This unit will provide a broad overview to the field and give students the opportunity to apply a creative system to a specific design problem.

Web page: DESC9176

Guest Lectures

Every now and then, I'm invited to give guest lectures by other people in the faculty. Here are some slides for those presentations:

Design Computing Honours Preparation (DECO3008)

Computational Modelling (lecture)

This guest lectures describes the general approach I use to conduct my research, computational modelling.

Web page: DECO3008

Understanding Design and Cognition (DECO1006)

Game Designers (slides)

This guest lecture introduces some fundamental concepts involved in the design of games, and explores the role of the game designer in the game development process.

Web page: DECO1006

2007

Interaction Design Studio (DECO1200)

The aim of this unit of study is to introduce students to the issues involved in the design of interactive systems. This unit of study will focus on best practice in interaction design including the use of conceptual modelling, prototype development and usability testing. In addition, students will learn practical skills in web design including how to use core technologies and how to use common web development tools.

Web page: DECO1200

Design Programming (DECO2011)

The aim of this unit of study is to introduce students to computer programming, both as a tool for design computing and as a medium of expression in digital media. This unit of study will focus on the practical application of computer programming as a way to expand the students' abilities to use computers in creative design and research tasks.

Web page: DECO2011

General Elective A (DECO3551) "Ecosystems"

This semester I have the pleasure of working with some of our brilliant students to develop "something awesome" in their final semester. The general theme of this elective, as chosen by the students, is ecosystems.

Web page: DECO3551

Modelling and Animation for Games (DESC9188)

The aim of this studio is to introduce students to fundamental concepts involved in the design and development of games. The focus of the studio is on modelling and animation for games, and this studio will focus on the production of models and animations for a game. The studio will also allow students to experience the game design process, from the development of an initial concept, the development and refinement of a concept to a design document and finally to the production of a game content.

Web page: DESC9188

Guest Lectures

Understanding Design and Cognition (DECO1006)

Game Designers (slides)

This guest lecture introduces some fundamental concepts involved in the design of games, and explores the role of the game designer in the game development process.

Web page: DECO1006

Generative Design Systems (DECO2013)

Social Creativity (slides) and Mass Customisation (slides)

These guest lecture explore the social nature of creativity and the increasing use of "mass customisation" across a range of design industries.

Web page: DECO2013

Creative Systems (DESC9176)

Social Creativity (slides)

This guest lecture explores the social nature of creativity and describes some recent research developing computational models of creative societies.

Web page: DESC9176

2006

Design Programming (DECO2011)

The aim of this unit of study is to introduce students to computer programming, both as a tool for design computing and as a medium of expression in digital media. This unit of study will focus on the practical application of computer programming as a way to expand the students' abilities to use computers in creative design and research tasks.

Web page: DECO2011

Creative Systems (DESC9176)

Coordinator: Prof. John Gero

The aim of this unit of study is to introduce students to the use of creative systems in design. This unit will provide a broad overview to the field and give students the opportunity to apply a creative system to a specific design problem.

Web page: DESC9176 / Assignment 1 / Assignment 2 / Assignment 3

Generative Design Systems (DECO2013)

Coordinator: Prof. John Gero

Web page: DECO2013

Additional material: Rob's lecture notes and assignments

The aim of this unit of study is to introduce students to the use of generative design systems. This unit will provide a broad overview of generative design systems and give students the opportunity to apply a generative system to a specific design problem.

Interaction Design Studio (DECO1200)

Co-lecturer: Dr Xiangyu Wang

Web page: DECO1200

The aim of this unit of study is to introduce students to the issues involved in the design of interactive systems. This unit of study will focus on best practice in interaction design including the use of conceptually modelling, prototype development and usability testing. This unit of study is taught in conjunction with Interactive Multimedia Design (DECO2102).

Guest Lectures

Understanding Design and Cognition (DECO1006)

Game Designers (slides)

This guest lecture introduces some fundamental concepts involved in the design of games, and explores the role of the game designer in the game development process.

Web page: DECO1006