Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course, the students are able to:

- Recognise, discuss, describe, critically reflect upon, apply and deepen knowledge on a special area of costume design.

Credits: 1

Schedule: 29.03.2021 - 19.04.2021

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Sofia Pantouvaki, Merja Väisänen

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Sofia Pantouvaki, Merja Väisänen

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (applies in this implementation):

Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):

Teaching language: English

Languages of study attainment: Finnish, Swedish, English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    The students are introduced to a special area in costume design. The content of the course may vary in different years and addresses the theory and practice of costume in an advanced level.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Short description of the course

    ‘Wearable Electronics’ is a short intensive course based on
    the collaboration of the fields of Costume Design, Sound Design and Lighting
    Design. The course aims to explore the potential of sound and light as a
    spatial and body-related element, and the potential of costume as a site for
    sound- and light-based performance. What is the impact of light and sound in
    relation to the materiality of costume and body? How can light and sound
    translate different sensor impulses into spatiality? Can sound or light become
    a ‘material’ that creates a bodily experience beyond the visual?

    The course investigates the relationship of sound, light,
    body and costume both through current technologies as well as throughout
    traditions - considering that sound and light have been elements related to the
    body/costume throughout history in different cultures. The starting point for
    this experimentation is embodied sound-based tools and light- and sound-led
    technologies.

    The course includes lectures and a small-scale research
    assignment (first week) and continues with hands-on work (second and third
    week). It is important to attend the lectures before joining the practical part
    of the course. The students will work in interdisciplinary teams. Based on
    their interests, each team will decide on the focus of their exploration, will
    develop an original concept, and will create a performance dramaturgy that will
    be presented in a demo. Throughout this collaborative work, the students will
    present their ideas, get feedback, experiment with materials and develop their
    work under supervision by the guest tutors.

    Learning outcomes:

    ●     
    To stimulate the students to experiment with embodied sensors,
    sound- and light-based and sound- and light-led embodied technologies.

    ●     
    To explore how body, sound and light can generate new performance
    ideas.

    ●     
    To encourage design students to collaborate on an
    interdisciplinary project with an open theme.

     



Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Students' development during the course, motivation, attendance and active participation in discussions, independent work and completion of assignments.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Assessment Methods and Criteria

    Students’ work on this course will
    be evaluated with the following criteria:

    Attendance: minimum of 80%
    attendance is required. Students are expected to attend, participate actively
    in the group discussions, and contribute to the assignments.

    Assessment criteria: Students’ development during the course,
    motivation, attendance and active participation in discussions, independent
    work and completion of assignments.

    Workload: The course is planned for 6 credits (162 study
    hours). Anyone unable to attend fully should inform in advance the responsible
    professor.


Workload
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    The workload depends on the type of content offered in each version of this course, and will be specified in the syllabus.

DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Depends on the type of content offered in each version of this course, and will be handed out separately.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Implementation

    The course is jointly organised by the majors of Costume
    Design (Aalto ARTS), Sound Design and Lighting Design (VÄS, UniARTS) and takes
    places at Aalto ARTS premises.

    Method of implementation: The course includes lectures,
    hands-on independent work, and group work. Reading materials will be handed out
    during the course, if needed.

    Mode of performance: Students are expected to participate in
    the lectures, presentations and feedback sessions, to develop a design concept
    in an interdisciplinary group and to present it in practice (demo). The course
    concludes with an audiovisual portfolio (the format will be discussed during
    the course) that includes a short essay presenting the concept, and a learning
    diary.

    Language of instruction: English


    Guest tutors (spring
    2021):

    Liisa Pesonen (1985) is a Finnish Helsinki-based costume
    designer currently working on several live performance projects. She has worked
    in the fields of film, theatre and dance since the year 2008. Pesonen graduated
    with a major in Fashion from Aalto University Department of Design in 2013. She
    has a background in several wearable electronics projects and finds inspiration
    in technology that enables revealing and observing entities usually hidden from
    human perception.

    Valtteri Wikström (1987) explores phenomena related to
    interpersonal communication, such as emotions, synchronization, and empathy
    through research which combines social neuroscience and multimodal interaction,
    with prototyping being in the spotlight. Wikström has graduated with an MA in
    New Media and an MSc in Cognitive and Computational Science from Aalto
    University, and he is currently in the final stages of his PhD in Psychology at
    the University of Helsinki.




Prerequisites
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    -

SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    5 Gender Equality

FURTHER INFORMATION

Details on the schedule
  • Applies in this implementation:

    Schedule:

     

    Zoom link for the
    course: 

    Topic:  ELO-E6507
    Special Areas in Costume Design (MA): Wearable Electronics

    Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
    https://aalto.zoom.us/j/68423540959

    Meeting ID: 684 2354 0959


     

    Scheduling:

    Week 13

    Mon 29 March:
    Morning: ZOOM 

    ●      
    Introduction
    to the course

    ●      
    presentations
    by the guest teachers Liisa and Valtteri

    Afternoon: 13 – 17 Otaniemi Campus

    ●      
    Everyone has to be present to receive distance learning electronics
    package

    ●      
    A small research assignment is given

    ●      
    Short
    intro outdoors (Otakaari 7 entrance near Kipsari)

    ●      
    Tours:
    Fab Lab & Costume Workshop (Otakaari 7)

    Tue 30 March:
    Morning: ZOOM

    ●      
    9:00-10:30
    Guest Lecture: TBA

    ●      
    10:30-12:00 Guest
    Lecture: Choreographer Hanna Pajala-Assefa / Embodied technology in dance
    practice

    Afternoon: ZOOM, Introduction to electronics with Arduino and
    reading sensors 13 – 17

    Wed 31 March:
    Morning: ZOOM

    ●      
    9:00-11:00
    Guest Lecture: PhD student Emmi Pouta / Introduction to E-textiles

    ●      
    11:00-12:00
    Discussion about student’s findings (small research assignment given on Monday)
    and discussion about students’ interests and forming groups

     

    Afternoon 13-17: ZOOM

    ●      
    Wearable
    electronics exercise

    ●      
    Concept
    discussions

     

    Easter holiday 1.4. –
    6.4.: no concrete assignments, but students can consider their work

     

    Week 14 / All activities on ZOOM, except when otherwise agreed with the students

    Wed 7 April:

    Morning: students’ group work in their small groups

    Afternoon ZOOM: tutorials/discussions with Valtteri

    Thu 8 April:

    Morning: students’ group work in their small groups

    Afternoon ZOOM: tutorials/discussions with Liisa

    Fri 9 April:

    Morning ZOOM: private tutoring sessions with groups about the project outcomes:
    concept and tangible

    Afternoon ZOOM: Networking, how to send sensor data to the setup 13 – 17

     

    Week 15 / All activities on ZOOM, except when otherwise agreed with the students

    Mon 12 April:

    Morning: students’ group work

    Afternoon: students’ presentations on their developed ideas

    Tue 13 April – Thu 15
    April:
    Developing the
    project/hands-on

    Tutorials with the teachers in afternoons.

    Fri 16 April: 

    Morning: private tutoring sessions with groups about the
    final presentations

    Afternoon: students’ group work

     

    Week 16 / 377 Ateljee, or in case covid-19 restrictions continue as they are
    now, the final demos will be on ZOOM.

    Mon 19 April (last
    day): 

    Morning: final preparation of projects and demos

    Afternoon: students’ final presentations

     

    Spaces:

    Lectures
    will be held online (current covid-19 regulations).

    Classrooms: 377 (Atelje on 3rd floor) and Project
    room 147 (1st floor). Room 377 can
    be used by 2 groups and room 147 by one group.

    Aalto
    Studios Costume Workshop (2nd floor) and FabLab (1st floor) support
    the course.

    All spaces are in Otakaari 7. The building is open 9-16.

    Students are encouraged to use
    Telegram or other platform suitable for them to have as easy and close group
    work flow as possible.

     

    Main Aalto covid-19 related
    regulations:

    Face masks will be used in all
    university indoor spaces. Hand hygiene and keeping a safe distance of at least
    two meters are crucial.

    At ARTS infra workshops:

    ●      
    During lockdown, the
    maximum headcount allowed has been decreased in some workshops.

    ●      
    Please, read the
    refined safety information
    before coming to the campus.

    ●      
    The workshop master
    has the right to dismiss those who don’t follow the safety measures.

    ●      
    According to the
    safety rules, staying at the workshops during the breaks (12 noon–1 pm & 5
    pm-6 pm) is forbidden.