LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the course, students are able to:
- Experiment with embodied sensors, sound- and light based and sound- and light led technologies.
- Explore how body, sound and light can generate new performance ideas.
- Collaborate on an interdisciplinary project with an open theme.
Credits: 6
Schedule: 28.02.2023 - 17.03.2023
Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Sofia Pantouvaki
Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):
Professor Sofia Pantouvaki, email: sofia.pantouvaki[a]aalto.fi
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:
Wearable Electronics is an intensive course that aims to stimulate the students to experiment with the potential of sound and light as a spatial and body-related element, and to explore the potential of costume as a site for sound- and light- based performance. The course investigates the relationship of light and sound to the materiality of costume and body, as well as how light and sound translate different sensor impulses into spatiality.
The course includes introductory lectures and hands-on group work. The students work in interdisciplinary teams, based on their interests. Each team decides on the focus of their exploration, develops an original concept, and creates a performance dramaturgy that is presented in a demo.
applies in this implementation
‘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.
Guest tutors (spring 2023):
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 has recently completed his PhD in Social Neuroscience at the University of Helsinki.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
valid for whole curriculum period:
Students' development during the course, motivation, attendance and active participation in discussions and group work, independent work and completion of assignments.
Students are expected to participate in the teaching (lectures, tutorials, presentations and feedback sessions), develop a design concept and present it in practice. The course concludes with an audiovisual portfolio (the format will be discussed during the course), a short essay presenting the concept, and a learning diary.applies in this implementation
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
valid for whole curriculum period:
The course includes lectures, practical tutorials, independent work and group work (in teams).
Contact teaching 65, group work and independent work 97 hours of total workload.
applies in this implementation
Workload: The course is planned for 6 credits (162 study hours). Anyone unable to attend fully should inform in advance the responsible professor.
DETAILS
Substitutes for Courses
valid for whole curriculum period:
Prerequisites
valid for whole curriculum period:
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
4 Quality Education
5 Gender Equality
9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10 Reduced Inequality
11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
12 Responsible Production and Consumption
17 Partnerships for the Goals
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
valid for whole curriculum period:
Maximum number of students 16, minimum 2. The course is a collaboration of the major of Costume Design (Aalto ARTS), with the programmes in Sound Design and Lighting Design (TeaK).
Teaching Language : English
Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Spring IV
2023-2024 No teachingEnrollment :
Registration for courses: Sisu. 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-at-aalto-arts
applies in this implementation
Spaces:
Rooms: 377 (Atelje on 3rd floor) and Project room 147 (1st floor). Room 377 can host several groups and room 147 can host one group (or 2 if necessary). Spaces will be divided based on the needs of the groups.
Aalto Studios Costume Workshop/Sewing Studio (2nd floor) and FabLab (1st floor) support the course.
All spaces are in Otakaari 7. The building is open 9-16.Student assistant (Costume & Production Design) erkki.koskimaki@aalto.fi
Students are encouraged to use Telegram or other platform suitable for them to have as easy and close group work flow as possible.
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 incl. at Aalto Studios.
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 audio-visual 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
Details on the schedule
applies in this implementation
Schedule:
Week 9
Tuesday 28.2.
9-12 Introduction to the course. Presentations by the guest teachers Liisa and Valtteri.
13-17 Information about the personal small research assignment -soft speakers
Tours: Fab Lab & Costume Workshop (Otakaari 7).
Wednesday 1.3.
9-10.30 Guest Lecture: Hanna Pajala-Assefa
10.45-12 Guest Lecture: Costume designer Tjasa Frumen / Costume design, interaction and collaboration (on Zoom / link: TBC)
13-17 introduction to prototyping with conductive materials and textiles with Liisa
Thursday 2.3.
9-12 Guest Lecture (on Zoom / link: TBC): Dr. Michaela Honauer, Interaction Designer – Wearable Technologies, Post-doctoral researcher at the University of Twente, The Netherlands
“Integrating Wearable Technologies in the Performing Arts: A Holistic Approach to Interactive Costuming”
13-17 Introduction to electronics with Arduino with Valtteri
Friday 3.3.
9-10.30 Guest Lecture: PhD student Emmi Pouta / Introduction to E-textiles
10.45-12 Discussion about findings and dividing students for group work.
13-17 Guided wearable electronics exercise and concept discussion for group work
5 h
Week 10
Tuesday 7.3.
9-12 Group work: developing concept, looking for possible materials
13-17 Presenting concepts for the class in room 377
Wednesday 8.3.
9-12 Tutoring Liisa
13-17 Tutoring Valtteri
Thursday 9.3.
9-12 Independent work
13-17 13-15 tutoring Liisa and independent work
Friday 10.3.
9-12 Independent work
13-17 Independent work
Week 11
Tuesday 14.3.
9-12 Session all together to see how projects are developing
and tutoring Valtteri and Liisa
13-17 Independent work
Wednesday 15.3.
9-12 Independent work
13-17 Independent work
Thursday 16.3.
9-12 Valtteri and Liisa tutoring sessions
13-17 Independent work
Friday 17.3.
9-12 Final preparation of projects and demos.
13-17 Students’ final presentations. Feedback on the course.