LEARNING OUTCOMES
After successfully completing the course, a student is able to
- Apply a human-centred, systems design approach to help address policy-level project briefs;
- Make informed decisions with primary and secondary data to help rethink pathways to change and the technical solutions necessary to enable it;
- Propose and evaluate types of design intervention useful in helping stakeholders leverage change;
- Frame and communicate processes and proposals verbally, visually, and in writing to multiple disciplines, sectors and the public;
- Facilitate participatory environments with stakeholders with different agendas and in multidisciplinary teams.
Credits: 12
Schedule: 24.02.2025 - 27.05.2025
Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Nuria Solsona Caba
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:
This is a practice-based course addressing social and economic challenges at the national level with a design approach. Every year, we have two ministries and other government partners who bring a national-level challenge that students address in groups. The course helps students to engage with critical and diverse partners in government by applying a combination of a human-centred, systems and behavioral design approach. At the end of the course, students propose a path for change, including possible entry points and design interventions. In more detail, the course content includes:
- Role of design in government and policy-making;
- Fieldwork with qualitative research methods with users and stakeholders;
- Systems design approach to frame opportunities for change;
- Identifying possible entry points and design interventions in the context of policy design;
- Behavioural-based and systems-based design interventions;
- Communication of project proposals through storytelling and scenario building.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
valid for whole curriculum period:
Assessment is done continuously by course teachers based on:- Quality of participation in contact teaching sessions (including 100% attendance) unless otherwise agreed in advance with the teacher in charge;
- Individual and group work, including management and completion of assignments;
- Communication of work-in-progress (blogs);
- Group Assignments, Mid-Term Presentation, Final presentations and report;
In addition, teachers will take into account feedback from partners on quality of project outcomes
Workload
valid for whole curriculum period:
The workload is 324 hours (12 credits), approximately 3.5 days a week. It requires flexibility to work in independent group work. Students are expected to attend all course activities in Periods IV and V.
The work distribution is as follows:
- Contact teaching 78h
- Independent group work 134h
- Individual work 34h
- Time to think 78h
DETAILS
Study Material
valid for whole curriculum period:
Course literature is adjusted every year. Study materials provided in MyCourses
See also past DfG Projects and recommended readings on the course website: https://dfg-course.aalto.fi/
Students participating in the course must sign an agreement about intellectual property rights (Creative Commons CC BY 4.0), following the course agreement with project partners.
Substitutes for Courses
valid for whole curriculum period:
Prerequisites
valid for whole curriculum period:
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
valid for whole curriculum period:
Teaching Language: English
Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Spring IV - V
2025-2026 Spring IV - VRegistration:
Minimum number of students 12, maximum 24; up to 15 places from Creative Sustainability and 9 places open from other programmes.
In case the course has more students than available slots we will prioritize students in the following order:- Creative Sustainability major students (ARTS; BIZ; CHEM)
- Department of Design masters students;
- All other master's students from Aalto and other universities
To apply for the course all students need to fill out an additional application form that checks some basic prerequisite knowledge for the course and the creation of student project teams.