LEARNING OUTCOMES
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- identify, understand and use a range of selected critical perspectives on contemporary design in terms of relationships between its production, consumption and the work of designers;
- demonstrate knowledge of the interactions of economic, social and political processes in the shaping of design cultures and the active roles of design cultures among these;
- independently engage critical and theoretical viewpoints in the analysis and discussion of selected artefacts and topics;
- research, understand and articulate historical processes relevant to their design interests.
Credits: 4
Schedule: 25.10.2021 - 17.12.2021
Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Guy Julier, Elise Hodson
Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):
CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):
Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):
Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
valid for whole curriculum period:
Through lectures, discussions, guest talks, readings and short assignments, this course introduces and explores some of the wider contexts of contemporary design culture. In particular, we focus on how global and local systems of meaning in design interact. We explore some of the economic, political and social forces that shape these different scales and historical processes of design.
The course is divided into two one-week parts. One part takes on the 'bigger picture' of some global processes in design. What drives globalisation? How has it affected the 'presentation' and identities of localities -- countries, regions, cities? Where does design take place in the networks of goods and capital? How have colonial systems of power shaped particular ideas of what design is and should be? And how might these be questioned and contested?
In the other part, we turn our attention to more local matters, in particular Finland. Having looked at design in terms of more orthodox, dominant cultural understandings, here we are more concerned with 'low', everyday or subcultural expressions of design culture. How do cultural practices that are independent of dominant forms function? What characterizes these? How do such localised activities and meanings interact with global flows of signs? How do everyday practices shape design cultures?
The overall idea, then, is that we get an enriched understanding of global-local, high-low relationships in design. We cannot cover all the debates, issues and possibilities that are available within this rubric. But, hopefully, we can begin to unpick some key questions that you can take back into your studies and your understandings of design and culture.
Attendance
Passing the course requires attending 80% of contact teaching sessions. Absence during contact teaching may be made up by completing an assignment agreed upon with the teacher. Students unable to meet the required level of attendance (for example due to exceptional circumstances such as health or residence issues), should contact the teacher as far as possible in advance to explain and discuss completion.This course is taught as an intensive week of activities in weeks 7 of Periods 1 and 2.
There is an option to take the course without attendance. This must be agreed with the teacher and will only be granted, again, in exceptional circumstances such as health or residence issues or for mandatory, credit-accumulating activities for programmes (e.g. a conflict with other programmes' or courses' timetabled activities means that you cannot attend some or all of the Design and Culture teaching sessions).
A full explanation of your reasons for taking it without attendance must be given and agreed. This explanation should be accompanied with documentary evidence. Students who undertake the course without attendance will have to undertake a more extensive course project without tutorial support.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
valid for whole curriculum period:
For students undertaking this course with attendance, passing requires attending and participating in 80% of contact teaching sessions.
Assessment is on the basis of the presentation of a portfolio of work undertaken for the course. This work may include reading and analysis assignments and an essay and/or exhibition proposal project.
For students undertaking this course with attendance, assessment is based on the following parts.
Studentship: understanding the assignments and following the deadlines, attendance and participation in lectures and seminars (20%)
Research and analysis: using theoretical and historical material from lectures, seminars, assignments and independent study to form independent and convincing arguments (60%)
Presentation: quality of presentation of arguments in textual and visual forms (20%)
For students undertaking this cou
Workload
valid for whole curriculum period:
4 ECTS is equivalent to a 108 hour workload.
Approx:
Lectures: 30 hrs
Seminars: 8 hrs
Time to think: 15 hrs
Independent study: 55 hrs
DETAILS
Study Material
valid for whole curriculum period:
Course literature will be announced in advance. Indicative reading:
Edensor, Tim (2002). National identity, popular culture and everyday life. Bloomsbury Publishing. Chapter 1
Hebdige, Dick (1988) Hiding in the Light: On Images and Things. London: Comedia. chp.4* Object as image: the Italian Scooter Cycle , pp.77-115.
Julier, G. (2914) The Culture of Design, 3rd edition. London: Sage.
Julier, G. (2017). Economies of Design. London: Sage. Chapter 4.
Skov, L. (1996). Fashion Trends, Japonisme and Postmodernism: Or What is so Japanese about Comme des Garçons?'. Theory, culture & society, 13(3), 129-151
Substitutes for Courses
valid for whole curriculum period:
Prerequisites
valid for whole curriculum period:
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
valid for whole curriculum period:
This course is taught as an intensive week of activities in weeks 7 of Periods 1 and 2.
There is an option to take the course without attendance. This must be agreed with the teacher and will only be granted, again, in exceptional circumstances such as health or residence issues or for mandatory, credit-accumulating activities for programmes (e.g. a conflict with other programmes' or courses' timetabled activities means that you cannot attend some or all of the Design and Culture teaching sessions).
A full explanation of your reasons for taking it without attendance must be given and agreed. This explanation should be accompanied with documentary evidence. Students who undertake the course without attendance will have to undertake a more extensive course project without tutorial support.
Teaching Period:
2020-2021 Autumn I-Summer
2021-2022 Autumn I-Summer
Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=MUO-E0016
Registration for Courses: Sisu replaces Oodi on 9 August, 2021. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-in-aalto-arts
WebOodi. Minimum students 50. Maximum students 140.
This course is taught as an intensive week of activities in weeks 7 of Periods 1 and 2.