vcc.ca
VCDP 2100: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Design
Effective date
January 2023
Department
Visual Comm Design Diploma
School
Trades, Technology and Design
Description
Design can have a powerful influence on social, cultural, economic, and political systems. As a result, it's important for designers to think critically about how their work can influence our world. This course will introduce students to key concepts relating to equity, diversity, and inclusion, including the history of systemic discrimination and inequity in Canada, and will then move deeper into investigating how the work of designers can impact these issues. Students will practice critically analyzing design solutions for the influence they may have on larger systems and will also learn to work respectfully with diverse groups. Throughout the course, students will critically examine personal beliefs, attitudes, and biases and will finish by developing a personal equity, diversity, and inclusion statement that relates to their work as designers.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
2nd Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Thinking critically, discuss key concepts that relate to equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Discuss the history of colonization, systemic discrimination, and inequities in Canada
- Examine the role design can play in upholding or dismantling systemic discrimination or inequity
- Critically analyze design solutions for the values they support and their impact on larger cultural, social, and economic systemics
- Examine issues of representation in culture and media and identify methods of improving representation
- Discuss ways to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in professional contexts
- Respectfully work with diverse people, including marginalized groups, and include them in the design process with an openness to different perspectives
- Critically examine personal beliefs, attitudes, and biases about marginalized groups and develop a personal equity, diversity, and inclusion statement
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
1. Interview with department to discuss previous experience
2. A portfolio assessment of previously completed related work OR
3. The demonstration of skills via the successful completion of 1-4 related projects/assignments similar to those completed in the course, chosen at the discretion of the department
2. A portfolio assessment of previously completed related work OR
3. The demonstration of skills via the successful completion of 1-4 related projects/assignments similar to those completed in the course, chosen at the discretion of the department
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 42
Practicum, Self-Paced, Individual Learning: 12
Total Hours: 54
Practicum, Self-Paced, Individual Learning: 12
Total Hours: 54
Instructional Strategies
A combination of lecture, demonstration, production simulations, problem solving, practical labs
and reflective discussion will be used throughout this course.
and reflective discussion will be used throughout this course.
Grading System
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Passing grade
S
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Project |
|
Final project |
|
Assignments |
|
Assignments |
|
Lab Work |
|
May include in-class exercises, assignments, quizzes/tests, and work-in-progress |
|
Participation |
|
Participation and professionalism |
Course topics
- Equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Power and privilege
- Systemic discrimination and inequity
- Marginalization
- Implicit bias
- Microaggressions
- Representation
- Values in design
- Decolonization
- Participatory design and co-design
- Respectful design
- Indigenous history and reconciliation
- Design justice and social justice
- Issues of race, gender, age, and ability in design
- Accessibility
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.