Set texts for Dundee design programmes (level 2, semester 1)

It's that time of year again when students are thinking about starting their new courses. The excitement, the keen sense of anticipation (surely that's the same thing?)... now's the time to get a head start on some of the reading you need to do!

Those of you joining us here at Dundee for level 2 on one of our design courses (graphics, jewellery, textiles, product, interactive media, interior design) will be taking the Design Studies module for which there are some set texts. The Amazon links below are for information only but offer some good deals. You may find some of these books on offer in Borders, Waterstones etc.

Set texts

Please buy both the following two books:






Gladwell, Malcolm (2001). The Tipping Point. London: Abacus Books

Buzan, Tony (1993). The Mind Map Book. London: BBC Worldwide

Study guides

You must also buy one of the following study guides (each covers the same ground but in different ways - check copies in a library or book shop to see which you prefer)








Cottrell, Stella (1999). The Study Skills Handbook. Basingstoke: Palgrave

McMillan, Kathleen and Weyers, Jonathan. (2007). The Smarter Student: skills and strategies for success at university. Harlow: Pearson Educational.

Chambers, Ellis and Northedge, Andrew (1997). The Arts Good Study Guide. Milton Keynes: The Open University

Start now!

Please read the whole of The Tipping Point and the first three chapters of The Mind Map Book by the start of semester. We'll be using The Tipping Point to spark ideas about design and research, and mind mapping as one of the techniques. It's really important that you're able to talk about the books when you arrive or you'll spend the whole semester catching up with everyone else.
You should also try out some Mind Maps so you're ready to start using them in class.

When you read, make notes of anything that catches your attention, or that you want to follow up or query later. By the end of the semester you should have read The Tipping Point at least twice.

The study skills books are always ones that most students think they don't need. Trust us - you do. Get one, read it through before you arrive and keep it handy to refer to. They will help you with using the library for research, for taking notes and for writing reports and essays.

If you have any questions about these books, or the Design Studies module, drop Jonathan a line, or add a comment on this page.