Research for Design DECO1100/7110
FAIL PASS CREDIT DISTINCTION HIGH DISTINCTION
COMMUNICATION The portfolio is very
difficult to understand;
sections missing or
incomplete; language is
unclear and/or difficult
to assess how well the
student understands
the nature of the work
they have done and its
purpose.
Adequate structure and
style, with some errors.
Generally complete.
Portfolio communicates
sufficiently well to
understand what work
has been done and
assess the student’s
understanding of that
work and its purpose.
Good structure and
style. Complete.
Substantially
communicates the
nature of the work and
the student’s
understanding of the
work and its purpose.
Clearly presented.
Very good structure
and style. Consistent
style of referencing.
Complete. High
standard of
communication that
clearly purveys the
nature of the work and
its purpose.
High standard of
presentation.
As for DISTINCTION,
with a very high level of
clarity in style and
structure, and excellent
communication
throughout.
METHODS AND
STRATEGIC CHOICES
Superficial use of
methods and
insufficient
understanding of their
intent and application.
Transcript missing or
shows very little
attempt to employ
interview strategies;
Observation notes are
undetailed. No other
methods attempted.
Adequate use of
methods with some
room for improvement
in understanding and
application. Transcript
shows some attempt to
use interview strategies
and open-ended data.
Observation notes
show limited attention
to detail. A Probe has
been deployed. Few/no
other methods
attempted.
Appropriate use of
methods.
Demonstrates
substantial
understanding of their
intent and application.
Transcript shows
multiple strategies
applied and some
success in gathering
open-ended data.
Competent, detailed
observations.

As for CREDIT, with a
high level of
understanding and
competence in the use
of methods. Originality
with methods
attempted (e.g. probes
are creatively deployed
and collected data is
complementing other
data well).

As for DISTINCTION,
with consistent
originality and mastery
demonstrated in the
use and choice of
methods. Excellent
referencing to
literature.

ANALYSIS AND
STRATEGIC CHOICES
Analysis poorly
conducted and
misunderstood.
Portfolio struggles to
demonstrate either
Adequate analysis of
some segments of
data; some human
values identified. Some
reasonable insights
Appropriate and
sometimes insightful
analysis. Relevant
human values identified
and presented. Some
As for CREDIT, with a
high level of skill
demonstrated in
analysis at either
breadth or depth.
As for DISTINCTION,
with originality, insight
breadth or depth in its
treatment of data.
Insights and
implications fail to show
empathy, human
centred focus and/or
relevance to design.
able to be generated
from analysis.
Adequate ability to
generate and present
themes and identify
outliers. Some
adequate implications
for design identified
some evidence of
human centred focus in
analysis.
insight in the analysis.
Themes and outliers
mostly well organised
and presented in the
body of data collected.
Substantial evidence of
human centred focus in
analysis.
Insights and
implications show
empathy, human
centred focus and
relevance to design.
and mastery evident in
analysis.
PASS/FAIL
• TRANSCRIPTION Has the student transcribed about 5 minutes of an interview they have conducted with a participant?
• Have 2 audio recordings of the interviews been provided as evidence of genuine work?
• OBSERVATION Has the student provided evidence of having conducted an observation of people’s use of a specific site?
• PROBE Has the student provided evidence of having conducted a cultural probe?
• DESIGN OPPORTUNITY/PROBLEM Has the student proposed at least two design opportunities or problems in response to the
research they have conducted?