Creative reflections on product design, 7.5 Credits

Contents

This course provides a platform for both theoretical and practical information gathering and individual reflections about the work process and role of the industrial designer and the potential to influence and develop work methods that could improve the design process and strengthen role of the designer. The course includes fundamentals of design research theory and an individual research assignment. During the first part of the course students are introduced to methods and techniques used in design research. The main objective of the research assignment is to identify, map, reflect and suggest relevant themes and work methods that could be explored further if chosen as a thesis work at the Advanced Product Design programme.

Expected learning outcomes

After having completed the course, the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Show the ability to analyse and draw conclusions from fact-based information.
• Identify a design opportunity within a specific area and argue for the relevance of this.

Competence and skills

• Create textual and visual documentation exposing personal reflections and conclusions on a theme related to design.
• Draw conclusions on suitable work methods and procedures relevant for an individual exploration of a chosen design opportunity and structure a time and project plan for such work.

Judgement and approach

• Generate personal reflections based on facts and insights obtained during the gathering of information and extend such reflections into possible areas for further personal development as a professional designer, in line with the student´s own personal design philosophies.

Required Knowledge

A Bachelor's degree or equivalent first-cycle qualification comprising of at least 180 ECTS or a corresponding qualification from an internationally recognized university. Specific entry requirements are: 60 ECTS credits in the field of Design. Student must also have passed all previous courses on the Master´s Programme in Advanced Product Design at Umeå Institute of Design or the equivalent. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.

Form of instruction

The teaching is in the form of written assignments, independent acquisition of knowledge and individual reflection. Details and schedule according to the specific project brief as presented at the beginning of the course.

Examination modes

Examination is carried out in the form of a number of written assignments that are compiled into an illustrated report written in English. The grade assessment is based on all consecutive parts and the grade given is Fail (U) or Pass (G).
For students who have not obtained the grade Pass, other examination sessions will be arranged. A student who for two consecutive examinations for the same course or sub-course has not been passed, has the right to have another examiner appointed, if there are no special reasons against this (Higher Education Ordinance chapter 6, 22 §). The request for a new examiner shall be made in writing to the Head of Department at Umeå Institute of Design.

ACADEMIC CREDIT TRANSFER
Students have the right to request that previous studies, or equivalent knowledge and skills acquired in a professional, work-related capacity, be validated and transferred into credits on an equivalent course or programme at Umeå University.  Applications for credit transfer should be addressed to Student Services/Degree Evaluation Office. More information can be found at the Umeå University student web site (www.student.umu.se/english) and in Chapter 6 of the Higher Education Ordinance.  Appeals may be made to the Higher Education Appeals Board (ÖNH) against a decision by the university not to approve an application for credit transfer (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 12), even in cases where only a part of the application has been rejected.