Here is a detailed Rubric for you to assist your final presentation. Please download it, use it for your self assessment.

Here is a detailed Rubric for you to assist your mid-term presentation. Please download it, use it for your self assessment.

How to Analyse: Please use This Template

Week 2 Plant Classification pdf 

Download the printable version of the Herbarium mini project guide Here

Download the printable version of how to make a Herbarium specimen guide Here. ( from the University of Melbourne Herbarium School of Botany)

Details of the ‘Growing” Project Here

Download the printable version of the Studio Guide Here

Download the printable version of the Course Guide B Here

Lecturers

Din Heagney // Din is a writer, editor and lecturer in art and design in Melbourne. / dinheagney.com Sophie Gaur // Sophie is as a designer and a teacher in Melbourne. sophiegaurstudio.com

Key objectives

The first objective of the studio is to address the nexus of nature in its most visible form (plants) and design. The studio will initiate discussions and attempt to develop a framework around how to think about design in conjunction with the natural world rather than independent of it. We question ideas around our current construction of the world and discuss how these might be rethought to deliver more ecologically sound and morally enriching alternatives. The studio will deliver a range of content in the form of films, readings and resources. Varied inputs are given to establish a broad based understanding  of the issues design can appropriate or address – from which a wide range of responses are possible. Based on their individual passions and interests, students will develop a proposition for a project that is focused around the biological (plant) world that addresses  and includes some of the deep thinking done during the semester.

Content

All content for the studio can be accessed via the studio website: http://herbariumstudio.com. All submissions are to be uploaded onto the shared google drive.

Communication

Students are required to attend all classes unless excused, due to one-on-one discussions in the later half of the semester. It is expected that you will keep channels of communication open at all times using your RMIT email. An external facebook group may be setup to share links to relevant or pertinent online content, and discussions as well as the delivery of shared information and resources, in a quick and efficient manner. Any reservations or opposition to such a group can be discussed and effective alternatives explored in a democratic fashion at the start of the semester.

Biblography & Resources

All studio resources are available on http://herbariumstudio.com

Methods 

Sensitisation Methods This means understanding and framing the overarching environment of your study. The methods you will use primarily are:

• Sensory:looking/touching/smelling/walking/feeling: This means re-opening the connection to the plant world at a sensory and emotional level effected through an immersion of sorts. (document these in a diary)
• Intellectual: watching / reading /discussing / documenting: This means consciously assimilating and internalising what has been done and understood by experts and practitioners to enrich and deepen your understanding of the field. document these in a diary)

Exploration Methods This means enriching and deepening of your study through direct action. The methods you will use primarily are:

• Documenting: You will select a plant – then document it – through writing, drawing, observing, photographing and mapping. Your understanding of this one plant is limited only by your imagination. You may choose to look at it as something that has inspired writers and artists, indigenous thinkers or dreamers. You may be inspired to create your own artistic or literary response to it. You will use a Herbarium style technique to press and preserve a sample. (Use guidelines provided
• Growing: You may want to grow something. A great way to start is to use carrot tops, mustard seeds or mung beans. You may watch them grow or document it through a stop-motion photography project done as a small side project. (Document through photographs or film)

Investigation Methods This means enriching and deepening of your study through research. The methods you will use primarily are

• Research: This means finding appropriate and relevant material that contributes to your particular interests and thinking. This may be in the form of books, journal articles or case studies. (Bibliography and notes)
• Conversation: This means talking to people who are doing things in the field. Botanists, nursery workers, gardeners, designers and learning from their experiences. (Recordings and notes)
• Trials: This means testing ideas to see if they are viable – this may happen through tests, modelling or proposed experiments where relevant (Relevant documents and notes)

Design Methods This means proposing and developing a concept:

• value propositioning: This means understanding the intrinsic value you wish to infuse into your design.
• sketching: This means using drawing and sketching ideas to develop and assist your design thinking.
• flow diagrams: This means using prediction and analysis to explore your design proposition.
• model-making and prototyping: This means working your ideas out in 3 dimensions, building trials and exploring outcomes.

Activities

Visits: Visit to the Forest Gallery, Melbourne Museum The Forest Gallery covers 1,485 square metres and is 27m wide and 55m long. The roof is 15m high at the lowest point and 35m high at the highest. The plants and animals are all Victorian and are from a reference area around Toolangi north of Melbourne. Both the plants and animals replicate very accurately the habitat and ecology from that region Visit to the Botanic Gardens, Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne Visit to Ceres Environmental Park, Brunswick East Visit to Kokoda Track Memorial Walk, The Dandenong Ranges This visit is something we would love to do – however we need to work out how to get there. Students who have cars and who drive may need to step up and we all share the ride. Mini Project 1. Herbarium Entries :  Each student is expected to select a plant (a local plant) and get a sample, press it, illustrate it and find out as much as they can about the plant. The material they develop will be uploaded onto the website as contribution to our own start to a course herbarium that will be uploaded onto the website –  however the difference from a usual Herbarium is the addition of artistic references, inspired writings or mythologies associated with the plant. Mini Project 2. As part of sensitising oneself to the idea of nurturing, life and growth, each student is expected to grow a plant,or start a kitchen and document its change over the 12 weeks of the course.

Deliverables

Please read through this carefully. 1. mid-sem presentation:tuesday: 25/08/2015 : 1.30-4.30 p.m. 2. final presentation week: 24 – 28 /10/2015 Final date and time TBC 3. exhibition: thursday: 28/10/2015 : 9.00-12.30 p.m • exhibition 5 – 8 p.m. 1. mid term presentation: research & document submission (week 6)(First proposition: Formal Submission : Tuesday 25/08/2015• 1.30-4.30 Week 6/class 11). i.Presentation Film ~ 5-7 Minutes This film should include your research, analyses of case studies, ideas that inspire you and a comprehensive, articulate proposition for a project. ii. A4 Document with • All research and reflection on research • A well articulated proposition for your design project • All inputs and analysis research and outcomes, sketches and ideation. iii. Herbarium contribution : Images, illustration, nomenclature/classification, narratives iv. Growing thing in progress with images. 2. final submission (week 14~ 26-31 october) i.Final Object/concept/system/model/prototype ii.Final folio of design : A4 Bound hard copy with soft copy ~ Interactive pdf (Presentation quality submission). This should be a formal document of your journey through the studio. It should include all work from week 1 to week 14. From initial research to final photographs. iii.Presentation Film ~ 5 – 8 Minutes The film needs to fulfil the following requirements. • Construct a project narrative: • Explain the proposition • Examine and explore the intention and reasoning as well as the supporting research . • Talk through the design and development. • Reflect on the outcome iv. Growing thing with images as a narrative of some kind. 3. exhibition (week 14~ 26-31 october) i. Arrangement and care of project for exhibition with installation and dismantling of your exhibit. Please make sure you plan all holidays and events after this date OR ensure you have someone to collect and store your work ii.High quality A2 Poster that explain your project. TASK 1:  Project development: concepts & exploration (Due W6): 40% Your work will be assessed based on the observations, hypotheses, and experiments you have made until mid-term review. TASK 2:  Project development: materialisation (Due W14): 40% Your work will be assessed based on materialisation of your proposals, innovation, originality and the level of craftsmanship of models, mock-ups and prototypes between mid-term review and final review. TASK 3:  Final presentation and exhibition (Due W14): 20% Your project will be assessed on the communication and articulation (verbal, virtual, and/or physical) of your work, and exhibition installation and dismantling. Submissions: PDF of project essay, videos, final prototypes, images of prototypes and other additional items that are required by each studio lecturer for the exhibition. (this text reproduced from course guide b grap1033: critical & creative concerns) You will be evaluated at 2 points. In week 6 we will have a mid-term presentation, formal submission and assessment of your work. This submission is referred to as Task 1, and it constitutes 40% of your mark. At this juncture students who are in unable to commit time or are under-performing will receive an “AT RISK’ letter from the university. This letter serves as a first warning to address methods of working, time devoted to, and overall output in the studio. Your remaining marks are divided into 2 parts. 40% is reflective of your design & development as well as your documentation and reflection. It is based on how you developed and refined your concept, methods you used to explore this and the research and how well you documented your progress. 20% of your final mark is given by a panel of 2 or more examiners (of which your lecturer is one) over a moderation process based on your presentation film, your responses to questions, your presentation document and the quality of your concept and prototype.

Time Table