Syllabus

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 contemporary cultural processes relevant to their design interests. 

 

Credits: 3

Schedule: 24.04.2023 - 05.06.2023

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Guy Julier, Pirjo Kääriäinen

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

2023

Note that Prof. Guy Julier is on Research Leave from January to June 2023.

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Teacher in charge:
Paola Cabrera
^{paola.cabrera@aalto.fi
+358415368640}

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 focuses on the relationships of global and local processes in design. How has globalisation affected the 'presentation' and identities of localities -- countries, regions, cities through products, services and experiences? 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?

  Having looked at design in terms of more orthodox, dominant cultural understandings, here we are also concerned with 'low', everyday or subcultural expressions of design culture. How do cultural practices that are independent of dominant orthodoxies 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.

  Design Culture Now is one of the four compulsory courses for all Master's students at the Department of Design.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Passing of the course requires attending and participating in contact teaching sessions and completing of course assignments. Assessment is on the basis of the presentation of a portfolio of work undertaken for the course. This may include reading and analysis assignments, presentations and written work. In case of independent study, the assessment is based only on course work.

Workload

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  The course is organized on Monday afternoons during Period V and the following evaluation week. Study methods include attending lectures, participating in tutorials and preparing for class through assigned videos and readings. The course involves group and individual work.

  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. 

  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 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.
  
  3 ECTS is equivalent to an 81-hour workload.

  • Contact teaching 28h 
  • Independent studying 40h
  • Personal reflection and self-assessment 12h
  • Course evaluation 1h

• applies in this implementation

  2023

  For the V Period 2023 the course workload of 81 h (3 ECTS) is distributed as follows
  

  • Contact teaching, 22.5 hours, including lectures, seminars, student presentations; and
  • Independent study, 58.5 hours - estimated distribution:

         ‒ Reading, watching video-lectures, 28 hours;

         ‒ Research, analysis, illustrated learning diary, final submission, 28 hours;

         ‒ Reporting, (self-)assessment, feedback, 2.5 hours.

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DETAILS

Substitutes for Courses

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Substitutes for Courses

Prerequisites

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Teaching Language : English

  Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Spring V
  2023-2024 Spring V

  Enrollment :

  Registration for Courses in Sisu. Minimum students 50. Maximum students 160. 

  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 

   

Details on the schedule

• applies in this implementation

  2023

  MUO-E0022 Design Culture NOW
  3 ECTS, V Period
  Independent study and contact teaching: 24.4.2023 - 8.6.2023
  Contact teaching: six Monday sessions, 24.4.2023 - 5.6.2023, 13:15-17:00.

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  The course takes place during Period V (which in 2023 runs from 24.4. to 11.6.).
  Contact teaching takes place in six Monday sessions, from 24.4. to 5.6., from 13:15 to 17:00; note that Monday 1.5. is a national holiday.
  

Description