Overview
This unit will focus on developing skill required for successful project briefing and design phase development. It will require the establishment of a project brief and a demonstrated understanding of activities required as a part of the design phase of a project. Determining client needs; Establishing the project brief; Developing tools for developing and communication options throughout design phase of a project; Coordination and involvement in the design team; Developing communications mechanisms for design phases; Developing and maintaining a continuous learning strategy for practice as a design professional.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: BLAR13037 Building Design 2
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 3 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from The teaching team reflections based on student design submissions and engagement in the unit forums
Students may need to receive further support to create a community of learners and skills of a reflective practitioners through the design processes.
Embed tools and adopt strategies to support online design critique practices
Feedback from The teaching team reflections based on student discussion in the unit weekly online sessions
Students found the presentation of case studies of similar design projects in the unit weekly online sessions useful.
Continue to include case studies of best and innovative practices of relevant building types
- Formulate a strategy for obtaining the information required for a client brief and a design brief
- Produce design documentation including drawings from a site plan and brief
- Develop a continuous learning strategy as a design professional
- Solve routine and unfamiliar problems using information, technology, logic and ethical decision making
- Practice personal and interpersonal skills
- Use effectively a range of appropriate communication modes.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||
| 2 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 35% | ||||||
| 3 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 35% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- MS Office or equivalent software
- USB Headset (microphone and speaker)
- Web Camera (webcam)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
n.abbasi@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Topic 1: Introduction to Design Documentation
Chapter
See unit study guide and weekly resources on the Moodle learning site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 2: Developing the Client Brief
Chapter
See unit study guide and weekly resources on the Moodle learning site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 3: Design Considerations and Requirements for the Elderly Population
Chapter
See unit study guide and weekly resources on the Moodle learning site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 4: Developing the Project Brief
Chapter
See unit study guide and weekly resources on the Moodle learning site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 5: Design Issues in Residential Aged Care Facilities
Chapter
See unit study guide and weekly resources on the Moodle learning site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 6: Assessing and Developing Design Solutions
Chapter
See unit study guide and weekly resources on the Moodle learning site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
There is no online session this week, enjoy the term break!
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
There is no online session this week, enjoy the term break!
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 7: Design Drawing and Presentation
Chapter
See unit study guide and weekly resources on the Moodle learning site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 Presentations take place this week
Module/Topic
Student design project discussion/consultation session
Chapter
See unit study guide and weekly resources on the Moodle learning site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 8: Technologies and Building Design Practices
Chapter
See unit study guide and weekly resources on the Moodle learning site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 9: Evaluation and Reflection - Learning from the Design Project
Chapter
See unit study guide and weekly resources on the Moodle learning site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Design review and presentation (A3)
Chapter
See unit study guide and weekly resources on the Moodle learning site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 10: Overview of Design Documentation
Chapter
See unit study guide and weekly resources on the Moodle learning site
Events and Submissions/Topic
Final presentations and class celebration is this week
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Assessment 1 addresses learning outcomes no.1 and no.2 with implications for the learning outcome no.3. It supports you in developing generic skills related to learning outcomes no.4 to no.6. For this assessment item, you will develop a Client and Project Brief for a residential aged care building. You will be required to examine the issues and requirements regarded as important to the design process and identify the client’s responses to them. Upon selection of a proper site for your building, you will prepare a project brief for the design of the building. You will undertake a site analysis and gather all the information required as identified in the study guide as part of the brief development process. You will develop schematic diagrams and generate preliminary site and floor plans.
AI Assessment Scale = AI Collaboration (You may use Al to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any Al-generated content you use).
Vacation Week Monday (22 Dec 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit via the assessment portal on the Moodle home page
Week 7 Monday (5 Jan 2026)
via Moodle unit site
The assessment will address the following attributes:
- Clarity of expression and comprehensive coverage of issues
- Demonstration of an understanding of all issues raised in the study guide
- Use of quality supporting documentation
- Use of original thought and content
- Overall presentation and ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation and the use of appropriate diagrams and other graphics
- Demonstration and application of core knowledge.
Your assessment should be produced in electronic format.
Before or on the nominated due date, upload your work following the on-screen instructions.
Your submission will be processed through the similarity detection software, Turnitin. You may amend your work based on the detection report.
You must ensure that the submission is your own and that any cited work has been correctly referenced as per the CQU requirements.
- Formulate a strategy for obtaining the information required for a client brief and a design brief
- Produce design documentation including drawings from a site plan and brief
- Develop a continuous learning strategy as a design professional
- Solve routine and unfamiliar problems using information, technology, logic and ethical decision making
- Practice personal and interpersonal skills
- Use effectively a range of appropriate communication modes.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
2 Presentation and Written Assessment
Week 10 Tuesday (27 Jan 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit via the assessment portal on the Moodle unit site
Week 12 Tuesday (10 Feb 2026)
via Moodle learning site
The assessment will address the following attributes:
- Clarity of expression and comprehensive coverage of issues
- Demonstration of an understanding of all issues raised in the study guide
- Use of quality supporting documentation
- Use of original thought and content
- Overall presentation and ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation and the use of appropriate diagrams and other graphics
- Demonstration and application of core knowledge.
Your assessment should be produced in electronic format.
Before or on the nominated due date, upload your work following the on-screen instructions.
Your submission will be processed through the similarity detection software, Turnitin. You may amend your work based on the detection report.
You must ensure that the submission is your own and that any cited work has been correctly referenced as per the CQU requirements.
- Formulate a strategy for obtaining the information required for a client brief and a design brief
- Produce design documentation including drawings from a site plan and brief
- Develop a continuous learning strategy as a design professional
- Solve routine and unfamiliar problems using information, technology, logic and ethical decision making
- Practice personal and interpersonal skills
- Use effectively a range of appropriate communication modes.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Presentation and Written Assessment
Exam Week Monday (16 Feb 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Presentation is live and online via the class online Zoom session.
Within two weeks of submission but before the certification of grades
The assessment will address the following attributes:
- Clarity of expression and comprehensive coverage of issues
- Demonstration of an understanding of all issues raised in the study guide
- Use of quality supporting documentation
- Use of original thought and content
- Overall presentation and ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation and the use of appropriate diagrams and other graphics
- Demonstration and application of core knowledge.
Your assessment should be produced in electronic format.
Before or on the nominated due date, upload your work following the on-screen instructions.
Your submission will be processed through the similarity detection software, Turnitin. You may amend your work based on the detection report.
You must ensure that the submission is your own and that any cited work has been correctly referenced as per the CQU requirements.
- Formulate a strategy for obtaining the information required for a client brief and a design brief
- Produce design documentation including drawings from a site plan and brief
- Develop a continuous learning strategy as a design professional
- Solve routine and unfamiliar problems using information, technology, logic and ethical decision making
- Practice personal and interpersonal skills
- Use effectively a range of appropriate communication modes.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
