Project 1: Specialized Product, 15 Credits

Contents

The course provides practical experience of designing a complex product or system, with a focus on specialized use. It is usually carried out in collaboration with a company, an organization or other relevant partner. The course comprises three modules:

Module 1: Foundations (3 credits)
During the first module, students will explore different perspectives that explain how specialized work and activities are organized and transformed through design, as well as different methods of research and design for a particular practice. It will focus on reading, presenting and discussing literature, and short activities.

Module 2: Project (9 credits)
The user-centered design project has three overlapping phases: in a non-linear design process that allows for synergy between research, design, and prototype development.

Module 3: Sensemaking (3 credits)
This module is about understanding the project in relation to interaction design for contemporary professional practices and includes training in academic writing.

Expected learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course the students should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Describe in detail various approaches in the area of user-centered design, with a focus on observation, activity studies, interview techniques and task analysis.

Competence and skills

• Apply approaches to sustainability and inclusivity in a practical design project.
• Apply methods in user-centered design in practical project work in groups.
• Use oral and visual presentation techniques to communicate the project process, the final design proposal and the resulting insights from the project.
• Demonstrate basic skills in academic writing.

Judgement and approach

• Reflect on the benefits and challenges of user centred design approaches and their relevance to interaction design practices in general.
• Independently summarize and analyze the project results in writing.
• Reflect on their own learning and development, and account for their own future challenges and opportunities based on insights and feedback obtained during the course.

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 also need to have passed all previous master courses in the Interaction Design programme at Umeå Institute of Design or the equivalent. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.

Form of instruction

The course consists of lectures, practical exercises and tutorials.

Examination modes

Examination of the three modules is based on the submission of results from individual assignments or group assignments. If several students complete assignments together, an individual assessment must be ensured. In order to pass the entire course, all of the various exercises and obligatory assignments must be completed, submitted and approved. On each of the three modules and for the course as a whole, one of the grades Fail (U) or Pass (G) is given.

Deviations from the course syllabus examination form can be made for a student who has a decision on pedagogical support due to disability. Individual adaptation of the examination form should be considered based on the student's needs. The examination form is adapted within the framework of the expected syllabus of the course syllabus. At the request of the student, the course responsible teacher, in consultation with the examiner, must promptly decide on the adapted examination form. The decision must then be communicated to the student.

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.