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

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • understand how design can facilitate social change in different socio-techno-economic settings;
  • critically assess potentials and pitfalls of different strategies to social change in particular contexts;
  • plan projects so that the merits and downsides of different ways, combinations, intensities and resources for fostering change are adequately addressed;
  • assess potentials and pitfalls of different approaches to design for social change.

Credits: 5

Schedule: 26.10.2020 - 04.12.2020

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Sampsa Hyysalo

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Sampsa Hyysalo, Kaisa Savolainen

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: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Designing for Social change (DSC) courses provide students basic understanding and competences to build design projects aimed towards social change. The course has a two part structure. 

    1. Theories and key concepts of social change the course provides a selective overview of most design relevant research on what it takes to achieve significant social change. DSC provides basics of core concepts, including sociotechnical systems, path dependence and path creation, sociotechnical couplings and interdependencies, practice change, social worlds and arenas for action, activist and post-capitalist frameworks, policy issues and economic drivers.
    2. Collaborative design for social change (Hyysalo): collaborative design – extending design from professionals to impacted peoples and relevant stakeholders – is often a prerequisite for fostering social change. The interests, resources, legitimacy and enthusiasm of these peoples need to be met for a change initiative to have a chance to succeed. This is very difficult for designers to approximate these in their studio alone. DSC features a set of hands-on exercises and associated learning materials on key aspects of planning and running different types of collaborative design in different settings. Successful design collaboration requires analyzing the big picture contexts and working from there to the nitty gritty details of designing for collaboration (… and back again). The student groups use these learning to device a plan for use (or non use) of collaborative design as part of their extended project brief and, if practicable, also enact some of the planned actions. 

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Assessment is made on attendance and participation and the completion of all assignments, exercises and projects.

    Criteria

    1. Clear understanding of how design can facilitate social change in different socio-techno-economic settings;
    2. Critical assessment of the potentials and pitfalls of different strategies to social change in particular contexts;
    3. Demonstration of ability to plan projects so that the merits and downsides of different ways, combinations, intensities and resources for fostering change are adequately addressed;
    4. Assessment of the potentials and pitfalls of different approaches to design for social change.
    5. Attendance and participation in at least 80% of programmed lectures, workshops, seminars or field visits and successful completion of all teaching assignments and exercises within deadlines given.

Workload
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Design for Social Change - Strategy (DSC) 5 ects, 135 hrs

    • Lectures, in-class demonstrations, in-class discussions and in-class work with tutoring: 40hrs
    • Time to think: 20 hrs
    • Independent literature study: 35hrs
    • Work in project assignment individually or in teams, preparing a presentation and a report: 40hrs

DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Will be announced in the beginning of the course.

Substitutes for Courses
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    MUO-E3011 Design Strategy and Leadership - DLS Project 
    MUO-E3026 Strategic Co-Design L
    MUO-E3027 Strategic Co-Design L

Prerequisites
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    User Inspired Design course or equal knowledge. Equal knowledge refers either to minimum of 10 ects of prior studies related to social change, design strategy, human centred design, co-design or a corresponding topics, or it can be demonstrated by passing a screening exam.

SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    1 No Poverty

    2 Zero Hunger

    3 Good Health and Well-being

    5 Gender Equality

    7 Affordable and Clean Energy

    11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

    12 Responsible Production and Consumption

    13 Climate Action