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 completion of the course, the students can:
(1) Identify and exemplify critical design practices and examine their historical, theoretical and cultural context.
(2) Analyse and articulate the key design methods employed.
(3) Become aware and articulate their own methods, their own values and the frame they work in.
(4) Challenge and expand the methods and frames of their own creative practice.
Credits: 10
Schedule: 20.04.2021 - 27.05.2021
Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Julia Lohmann
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Julia Lohmann
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:
The course introduces students to critical approaches in design by addressing it as an evolving, political and activist field. It gives an introduction to different practices of critical design including speculative design, transition design, design activism and their theoretical and historical foundations.
The course enables the students to apply research-oriented critical approaches to analyse and reflect upon their actions, mindsets, methods and outputs on their own field of design practice. The course guides the students to understand the importance of curiosity on social, political, cultural and ecological issues and it provides skills to apply critical approaches as a springboard for engaging through design with relevant societal challenges.
During the course the students will reflect on current challenges as well as their own values and use design as a vehicle for critical deliberation. The outcome of the course is a design artefact or critical intervention accompanied by reflective writing. Students learn to explicate the foundations of their critical stand.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Passing the course requires:
(1) Attending 80% of the contact sessions.
(2) Oral and written reflection of the study material and their deliberative design process.
(3) Completion of the design assignment.
Workload
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
270 h /10 credits
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Lectures 27h / 1 credit
Group discussions and tutoring 54h /2 credit
Literature study, reading groups and writing assignments 27h /1 credits
Design assignment, studio work, presentation 108h / 4 credits
Personal reflection, Learning Diary 54h / 2 credits
DETAILS
Study Material
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Hanna, Julian, Auger, James and Encinas, Enrique (2017) Reconstrained Design: A Manifesto. In: DIS '17 - 2017 ACM Conference on Designing Interactive Systems, 10th - 14th June 2017, Edinburgh, UK. URL: https://doi.org/10.1145/3064857.3079141
Other sources will be given in the course.
Substitutes for Courses
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
This course replaces course MUO-E5008 in the old degree requirement
Registration for Courses
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
WebOodi
The order of priority for admitting students to courses at Aalto ARTS 1.1.2018 onwards (approved by The Committee of Arts, Design and Architecture on 10.10.2017)
The order of priority is as follows:
- students for whom the course is compulsory for their major/programme and who have scheduled it for the current academic year in their personal study plan (HOPS);
- exchange students for whom the course is a part of his/her officially approved learning agreement and scheduled to be taken during the current semester;
- students for whom the course is compulsory for their major/programme and who have not completed it yet;
- students, for whom the course is part of his/her major s or programme s alternative studies and has been scheduled in the student's PSP (HOPS) for the current academic year
- students, for whom the course is part of his/her major s or programme s alternative studies and who have not completed the requisite number of credits for alternative studies yet;
- students for whom the course is compulsory for their minor;
- students, for whom the course is part of his/her minor subject s alternative studies and who have not completed the requisite number of credits for alternative studies yet;
- students who have applied for the course through a student mobility scheme (internal mobility within Aalto University, flexible study right (JOO) studies etc.);
- other students.
Courses that are intended to be multidisciplinary (e.g. UWAS courses) may apply an order of priority based on the learning outcomes of the course, while bearing in mind the university obligation of enabling students to complete their degrees within the normative duration of study set for the degree. The order of priority does not apply to courses organised by the Centre for General Studies or doctoral courses.
This decision on the order of priority does not influence the right of the teacher to define prerequisites for the course.
Applies in this implementation:
The theme of this year's course is a brunch, aperitiv and dinner party in the year 2040. This speculative gathering will happen in 2040 at the end of the course, via zoom. We will eat and present together. You (and everyone in turn) are the host of the party for your allocated presentation and have prepared the food and your speech to greet your guests. What future will you imagine? How will you get us to delve into this future with you? What props and visuals will you design, what food will you cook for us and why? Who will you have become in this future? What was your path in the last 19 years?
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
10 Reduced Inequality
11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
12 Responsible Production and Consumption
13 Climate Action
16 Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Max. 26 students. The course is compulsory for all students from the Master's Programme in Contemporary Design.
Applies in this implementation:
The theme of this year's course is a brunch, aperitiv and dinner party in the year 2040. This speculative gathering will happen in 2040 at the end of the course, via zoom. We will eat and present together. You (and everyone in turn) are the host of the party for your allocated presentation and have prepared the food and your speech to greet your guests. What future will you imagine? How will you get us to delve into this future with you? What props and visuals will you design, what food will you cook for us and why? Who will you have become in this future? What was your path in the last 19 years?
Details on the schedule
Applies in this implementation:
Due to the ongoing pandemic, this course will be taught online. It will involve peer to peer walks in person that can also be held online if in person is not possible. The contact hours are Tuesday 9-16.30 and Thursday 9-16.30. You will be asked to conduct peer to peer meetings on Wednesday which you can schedule yourself with the peer you will be assigned with. A complete course schedule will be uploaded on the main mycourses poage on the 13th of April.
- Teacher: Julia Lohmann
- Teacher: Aino Tuovinen