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DAAE2005: Designing with Colour 1 (2012 - Semester 1)

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Unit: DAAE2005: Designing with Colour (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Senior
Faculty/School: Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr O`Connor, Zena
Dr Davis, Wendy
Session options: Semester 1, Semester 2, Winter Main, Summer Early, Summer Main
Versions for this Unit:
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: None.
Brief Handbook Description: The aims of the unit are: (1) To make participants aware that any design decision involves a decision about colour. This applies to colour application in architecture, applied design and art. (2) To present participants with knowledge about colour theory and research- based information about colour and associated topics that can be used in design. This information falls into three main areas. The first relates to the basics of colour vision and includes perception of colour, colour mixing, colour measurement and specification. The second area deals with relationships between areas of colour and colour combination techniques. The third area is concerned with human information processing and the various theoretical assumptions and constructs embedded within colour theory and application. (3) To demonstrate to participants how information and knowledge about colour can be used to understand experiences associated with specific examples of colour application in architecture, art and design. (4) To have participants use their skills and knowledge about colour theory and colour design in exercises that form the basis for the assignments and the assessment in the unit. The objectives of the assessments tasks are to have participants demonstrate their understanding of the knowledge presented in each of the areas of the unit and their ability to critically analyse and use that knowledge by: analysing colour design and application; critically discussing colour application; and specifically identifying colour design and application strategies in applied colour design.
Assumed Knowledge: None.
Additional Notes: Enrolment numbers limited by teaching resources. If your attempt to enrol online is unsuccessful, please seek permission from the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning Student Administration Centre.
Timetable: DAAE2005 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 E-Learning 6.00 1 13
T&L Activities: Lectures: Online delivery through Blackboard (eLearning)

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Evaluation and analysis of colour design and application Problem-solving, design, and/or planning (Level 2)
Evaluation and analysis of colour theory Theoretical, social and/or historic engagement (Level 1)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Architecture Contextualized Graduate Attributes. .

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Problem-solving, design, and/or planning (Level 2)
1. Colour design analysis and evaluation
Theoretical, social and/or historic engagement (Level 1)
2. Various aspects of colour theory
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Critical analysis No 40.00 Week 5 (Friday, 11 pm) 1, 2,
2 Report No 60.00 Week 13 (Friday, 11 pm) 1, 2,
Assessment Description: Assignment 1 - Critical Analysis (40%). Information about colour can vary from high quality, evidence-based scholarly information to unsubstantiated information and/or personal opinion masquerading as knowledge. This assessment task develops students’ abilities to critically analyse and discuss an exemplar text found in mass media. Students are required to evaluate and critically analyse the text provided (Wright, 2011) with reference to the information and readings provided in Learning Module 1 (that is, Lecture 1; iResearch: Evaluating Sources Guide (Scholarly, Vs Non-scholarly resources), iResearch Referencing Guide, etc). Submit as short essay of not more than 500 words (including references in APA format).

Assignment 2 – Report: Analysis of colour application (60%). This assignment develops the student’s ability to research, critically analyse and discuss information relevant to colour theory and application. Students are to select their own example (one only) of architecture, art or applied design. It may be any example of their choice including graphic, interior, product, textile or urban design. Students are to provide an in-depth examination and analysis of colour-use in respect to their selected example with reference to the information/readings provided in the course. 1) Clearly identify the example and provide images/illustrations. 2) Identify the range of colours in the example using a common colour notation system (such as RGB, Pantone, etc); 3) Provide an in-depth analysis and discussion of the colours featured in the example in terms of category and attributes of colour; Gestalt theories of perception; type of colour contrast; plus any perceptual effects that may be apparent in the example. Submit as a report in PDF format of no more than 1,000 words (including references in APA format).
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Policies & Procedures: www.arch.usyd.edu.au/CS/forms.shtml
Note on Resources: Readings are provided in Learning Modules; however, additional sources of information are:

Albers, J. (1963). The interaction of color. New Haven, NY: Yale University Press.

Burchett, K. E. (2002). Color harmony. Color Research and Application, 27(1), 28-31.

Delamare, F., & Guineau, B. (2000). Colour: Making and using dyes and pigments. London: Thames & Hudson.

Feisner, E. A. (2000). Colour: How to use colour in art and design. London: Laurence King.

Gage, J. (1995). Colour and culture. London: Thames & Hudson.

Gage, J. (2000). Colour and meaning: Art, science and symbolism. London: Thames & Hudson.

Itten, J. (1961). The art of color (Revised edition, 1973). New York: John Wiley.

Kuehni, R. G., & Schwarz, A. (2008). Color ordered: A survey of color order systems from antiquity to the present. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Lamb, T., & Bourriau, J. (Eds.). (1995). Colour: Art and science. Cambridge: University of Cambridge.

Livingstone, M. (2002). Vision and art: The biology of seeing. New York: Abrams.

O'Connor, Z. (2010). Colour harmony revisited. Color Research and Application, 35(4), 267-273.

Porter, T., & Mikellides, B. (2009). Colour for architecture today. London: Taylor & Francis.

Plus the journal: COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION which is available online through the Library.

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Lecture/Tutorial: Evaluating information. Readings: Wright (2011); Academic Honesty & Plagiarism policy; iResearch Evaluating Sources guide (Scholarly vs. Non-scholarly resources); iResearch Referencing guide; iResearch Endnote guide (2011)
Week 2 Lecture/Tutorial: The experience of colour; Exploring the notion of theory in relation to colour theories; Introducing colour models and common colour-related constructs. Readings: Maund (2006); Moore (1997a); Moore (1997b)
Week 3 Lecture/Tutorial: Introducing categories of colour Conventional colour; substance colour; formula colour; spectral profile colour); Examining the attributes of colour (hue, tone/tonal level and saturation). Reading: Green-Armytage (2006)
Week 4 Lecture/Tutorial: Visual perception; Cognitive processing of visual information; Contrast and the impact on saccades; Visual threshold; Fixational reflex. Readings: Byrne & Hilbert (2003); Livingstone (2002)
Week 5 Lecture/Tutorial: Lecture/Tutorial: Examining Gestalt theories of visual perception and the role of colour: ‘Good Figure’; Proximity; Similarity; Figure-Ground; Ambiguous Figure-Ground with examples and applications in art, design and architecture. Reading: Graham (2008)
Assessment Due: Critical analysis
Week 6 Lecture/Tutorial: Historical and contemporary colour models; Exploring common colour-related constructs: primary, secondary and tertiary colour; 'Warm' and 'Cool' colours; Colour harmony; Complementary & Contrasting colour. Readings: Kuehi & Schwarz (2008) - Chapter 1; Derefeldt, Swartling, Berggrund & Bodrogi (2004); Burchett (2002) and O'Connor (2010).
Week 7 Lecture/Tutorial: Exploring colour application and coloru theories from pre-history to Middle Ages. Reading: Feisner (2000) - Chapter 14
Week 8 Lecture/Tutorial: Exploring colour application and colour theories: Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
Week 9 Lecture/Tutorial: Exploring colour application and colour theories: 17th to 19th centuries. Reading: Kuehni (2007)
Week 10 Lecture/Tutorial: Exploring colour application and colour theories: 20th and 20st centuries. Reading: Eliasson (2006)
Week 11 Lecture/Tutorial: Exploring Complementary/Contrasting colour. Itten's seven types of contrast with examples from art, design and architecture. Readings: Kopacz (2003) - Chapter 8; Kopacz (2003) - Chapter 12
Week 12 Lecture/Tutorial: Perceptual effects and colour: Applications and examples from art, design and architecture.
Week 13 Assessment Due: Report

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Problem-solving, design, and/or planning (Level 2) Yes 40%
Theoretical, social and/or historic engagement (Level 1) Yes 60%
Documentation, techniques of representation and communication (Level 1) No 0%
Information, literacy, learning and research skills (Level 1) No 0%

These goals are selected from Architecture Contextualized Graduate Attributes. which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Architecture Contextualized Graduate Attributes. for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.