Syllabus

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After successful completion, the student is able to:

1. Understand different forms of research-based knowledge and concepts that are used in support of fashion and textile design processes;
2. Understand and explain the role of research-based knowledge in the creative process (e.g. in data collection, documentation, and reflexive self-evaluation);
3. Show ability to use research-based knowledge in their own design practice;
4. Undertake design research to build knowledge to support and justify the practical work, and to possibly apply for education leading to a Doctor of Arts degree.

Credits: 3

Schedule: 13.01.2025 - 10.02.2025

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Kirsi Niinimäki

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

Emmi Pouta emmi.pouta@aalto.fi

Kirsi Niinimäki kirsi niinimaki@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:

  The course consists of lectures, readings, discussion sessions and own reflections on research through design approaches in the fashion and textile field. Research through design, practice-based, constructive design research, design ethnography and user-centered research approaches will be presented. Students will also rehearse how to do reflective writing.

  • Overview of different forms of research-based knowledge in fashion and textiles and especially in MA thesis work in FaCT.
  • Understanding the research through design approach and how to use it in MA thesis work
  • Basics for information and visual retrieval and use of references.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Passing the course requires attending contact teaching sessions and completion of all individual and group assignments. 100% active attendance, of which 20% can be covered with additional assignment.

Workload

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Overall workload 3 cr = 81 h in total.

  • 27 h Contact teaching
  • 43 h Independent work
  • 10 h Personal reflection
  • 1 h Course Evaluation

DETAILS

Study Material

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Selected reading delivered at the beginning of the course through MyCourses

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: 2024-2025 Spring III
  2025-2026 Spring III

  Registration:

  Min. 5 students, max. 40 students. The course is intended only for FaCT students. Please note: The course is recommended to be taken in the 1st study year.

  Registration for courses Sisu.

Details on the schedule

• applies in this implementation

  		texts/pre-readings
  13.1.	13.15.-17.00 Course starts - How to do the course - Positioning your MA thesis - Reflective documentation First task: the reflective journal	Koskinen, I., & Krogh, P. G. (2015). Design accountability: When design research entangles theory and practice. International Journal of Design, 9(1), 121-127. Mäkelä, M. (2016). Personal exploration: Serendipity and intentionality as altering positions in a creative process. Form Akademisk-forskningstidsskrift for design og designdidaktikk, 9(1).
  20.1.	(13:15-14:15) Art and design practices in research - applied textile thinking - prototyping - researcher positionality (14:30-16:30) panel discussion group discussion Independent task: divide into groups and select an MA thesis for reading	TBA
  27.1.	Information retrieval (13:15-16) Väre/R102 Group task guidelines (16-17)	MA thesis guidelines Reflective journal deadline 26.1.
  3.2.	Visual retrieval (13:15-15) Väre/R102 Presentation of group tasks (15:15-17)
  10.2.	13.15-17.00 User centered approach Participatory design Co-design   Marium Durrani: Ethnography	Please select one text from the following and read it before the session: Hirscher, A. & Niinimäki, K. (2013) Fashion Activism through Participatory Design, Crafting the future conference. 10th European Academy of Design Conferences 17-19 April, 2013. University of the Gothenburg, Sweden. Brent Luvaas (2018) Introduction: Anthropology, Street Style, Bloomsbury Academic https://www-bloomsburyfashioncentral-com.libproxy.aalto.fi/products/berg-fashion-library/book/street-style-an-ethnography-of-fashion-blogging/introduction-anthropology-street-style
  17.2.	13.15-17.00 Feedback from reflective journals Discussion on the pre-reading Summary of the course - what have we learned Positioning your own interest in MA thesis	Clemens Thornquist (2014) Basic Research in Art: Foundational Problems in Fashion Design Explored through the Art Itself, Fashion Practice, 6:1, 37-57.

  
  

  Tasks:

  Reflective journal. Deadline 31.1.

  Group task: analysing one MA thesis. Presentations on 3.2.

  Active participation to group discussions

  Short reflective text: positioning own MA thesis work. Deadline 21.2.

  
  

Description