The Design Pre-Thesis 1 promotes design as instrument for mediating the impact of issues and intricacies emanating from contemporary socio-cultural, economics and political conditions of urban and sub-urban communities on the multifarious aspects of dwelling, business, leisure and working. It encourages decision-making process through design and research inquiry, leading to effective value generation and delivery of designated solutions and initiatives for the built environment. The design course aims to explore the systemic relationship between human actions and behaviour, their physical and social environments in the context of spatial production and placemaking. The relationship is considered an ‘ecological’ one, where different ecosystems (living and non-living) interact with each other, subject to different problem parameters, constraints and variables. It adds to greater understanding of the meaning and values of designed-forms, functions and spaces specifically from social, economical, political and cultural perspectives. This course integrates with MBEA1213 Socio-Culture.