LEARNING OUTCOMES
After successfully completing this course, students are able to:
(1) Understand the ecological implications, processes and potential of working with biomaterials in the context of design for sustainability;
(2) Analyse and evaluate material values, aesthetics and new/old crafting methods in the socio-ecological context they are introduced to.
(3) Conduct, record, analyse and present their research and experimental design process individually or in small teams.
(4) Combine hands-on material exploration with conceptual thinking and research to create prototypes and design concepts;
Credits: 9
Schedule: 06.09.2022 - 19.10.2022
Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Anna-Marie van der Lei, Julia Grundmann
Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):
Anna van der Lei
Anna.van.der.lei@aalto.fi
Julia Lohmann
Julia.lohmann@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:
As biomaterial is a broad and currently widely used term, the students wil explore and discover new perspectives to biomaterials within their systems and understand how to create their own creative approach towards these materials. In the course we explore, understand and work with bio-materials and their systemic contexts: natural / social / lifecycle. Depending on the annual topic, the course may be executed in collaboration with a company or organization. The core of the course is to design an innovative concept in the given context, and to execute process-driven, hands-on material experimentation that aims to use material exploration as a source for practice-based design research. The background research, process documentation and final presentation/exhibition are an important part of the learning process.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
valid for whole curriculum period:
Documentation and content of background research, material design process and hands-on experimentations; quality of personal learning diary; visual and verbal communication skills. Passing the course requires attending 80% of the contact sessions (lectures, excursions, group meetings and feedback discussions) and personal learning diary kept throughout the course.
Evaluation criteria: activity during the course, the creative process, quality of the final artefact and learning diary.
applies in this implementation
pass/fail
Workload
valid for whole curriculum period:
Course workload 9 ECTS = 243 h
Contact teaching: lectures, site visits, group discussions, assignments and final presentation 90 h
Independent work: literature study, writing assignments, studio work in groups and individually 122 h
Personal reflection 30 h
Course evaluation 1 h
DETAILS
Substitutes for Courses
valid for whole curriculum period:
Prerequisites
valid for whole curriculum period:
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
12 Responsible Production and Consumption
14 Life Below Water
15 Life on Land
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
valid for whole curriculum period:
Teaching Language : English
Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Autumn I
2023-2024 Autumn IEnrollment :
Minimum 10, maximum 24 students. Compulsory for 1st year Contemporary Design major students.
Registration for Courses in 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
Brief: Relate to science and ecosystem and see how we as designers can help.Engage with the Sea, its problems and potentials and our human relation to it. How can this relationship become less destructive? How can we know, care, act better? And what can designers bring to the table to address these issues? Are we visionaries, material developers, advocates, networkers, visualisers?
You will work in groups, every group will focus on a different theme. At the end of the course you have 20 minutes per group to show your findings (format free e.g. presentation, performance, video etc).
What's the role of design:
Group A: Seaweed as a future material
Group B: Engaging and education
Group C: Restoration of habitats
Group D: Eco-Social interactions
Details on the schedule
applies in this implementation
Week 1
06.09. TUE (Q203, Väre)
10:00-12:00 Kick-off Materials and Living Systems
Task: introduce yourself with three photos. Send your photos inforehand to zoe.robertson@aalto.fi (latest Monday at noon)
Aalto Day One (13:15 – 19:00)08.09. THU
BioBlitz 14.00-18.00 + afterparty
More information will be provided by Zoe
Week 2
10.09.
15:45 at the Viking Line terminal in Helsinki.
Address: Katajanokanlaituri 8 / Mastokatu 1, 00160 Helsinki
11.09. We arrive 10:00 in Stockholm and continue our travel by bus to Kristineberg (the bus drive will take around 6 hours)
12.09. Kristineberg (schedule will follow)
13.09. Kristineberg (schedule will follow)
14.9. Kristineberg (schedule will follow)
At 12:00 we will travel back to Stockholm, boat leaves at 20:00
15.9. We arrive 07:35 in Turku and will travel by bus to Campus
Week3
20.09. TUE (Q203, Väre)
09:00 - 10:30 Reading Group A & B
09:00 - 10:30 Reflecting on trip Group C & D
10:30 - 12:00 Reading Group C & D
10:30 - 12:00 Reflecting on trip Group A & B
13:00 - 16:00 System mapping workshop by Seona Candy
22.09. THU Q203
09:15 - 12:00 Alumni CoDe students presenting13:00 - 16:00 Introduction to Mycelium & visit VTT by Manuel Barrantes
Week 4
27.09. TUE (Q203, Väre)
09:15 - 12:00 Group A & B glass workshop
13:00 - 16:00 Group C & D glass workshop09:00 - 10:30 Reading Group C & D
10:30 - 12:00 Tutoring C & D
13:00 - 14:30 Reading Group A & B
14:30 - 16:00 Tutoring A & B
29.09. THU (Q203, Väre)
09:00 - 12:00 critical and creative methods workshop: How to craft your project?
Week 5
MON 03.10.
Mycelium workshop by Manuel
09:00 - 12:00 Group D
13:00 - 16:00 Group C
04.10 TUE (Q203, Väre)
09:30 - 10:30 tutoring group D10:30 - 11:30 tutoring group B
13:30 - 14:30 tutoring group C
14:30 - 15:30 tutoring group A
Mycelium workshop by Manuel
09:15 - 12:00 Group A
13:00 - 16:00 B
06.10 THU (Q203, Väre)
09:15 - 16:00 creative writing circleWeek 6
MON - WED students can work in the lab (optional)
11.10 TUE (Q203, Väre)
09:30 - 10:30 tutoring group B
10:30 - 11:30 tutoring group A
13:30 - 14:30 tutoring group D
14:30 - 15:30 tutoring group C
13.10 THU (Q203, Väre)
Final presentations (20 min presentation + 10 min questions and feedback)
09:30 - 10:00 group C
10:00 - 10:30 group B
10:30 - 11:00 break
11:00 - 11:30 group D
11:30 - 12:00 group A
13:00 - 18:00 We will end the course by visiting Hanaholmen