Topic outline

  • Weekly Course Schedule

    The course is divided into two parts (6-weeks each) with a 2-week summer break in mid-July. Most sessions for part 1 are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 17:15 - 18:45. For part 2, most sessions are held on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays 10:15 – 11:45. 

    Part 1: Role of Human-Centred Research and Design in Crisis

    WEEK 1: Understanding Crisis and Role of Human-Centred Design

    • Lecture (June 2): Introduction to Crisis and Human-Centred Design, Prof. Nitin Sawhney, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University
    • Workshop (June 4): Real-world Challenges of Crisis and Disaster Management, Marko Korhonen, Disaster Management Coordinator at Finnish Red Cross

    WEEK 2: Role of ICT, Interaction Design & Data Science in Crisis Response

    • Lecture (June 9): 
      • Role of Information & Communication Technologies in Humanitarian Sector, Ilpo Kiiskinen, Communications Director at Finnish Red Cross
      • Crisis Communication Strategies at Aalto University, Jaakko Salavuo, Communications Director, Aalto University
    • Workshop (June 11): 
      • Designing the Ketju Contact Tracing App: Interaction Design, Technology and Privacy Implications, Karri-Pekka Laakso, Lead Designer (Interaction), Reaktor
      • Privacy-Preserving Contact Statistics Collection using COVID-19 Contact Tracing Apps, Prof. Antti Honkela, Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science, University of Helsinki and Coordinator of Research Programme in Privacy-preserving and Secure AI, Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI)

    WEEK 3: Challenges of Security and Privacy in Crisis Contexts

    • Lecture (June 16): Why Contact Tracing is Neither Secure or Privacy-Preserving, Prof. Janne Lindqvist, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University
    • June 18th - No class session scheduled for weekend of Juhannus, mid-summer’s day in Finland.

    WEEK 4: Conducting User Experience Research for Healthcare Contexts

    • Lecture (June 23): Designing for Healthcare Experiences from a Multistakeholder Perspective. Prof. Johanna Kaipio, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University
    • Lecture (June 25): Data-Driven Approaches to Healthcare Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Miika Leminen, Head of Analytics and AI Development at Helsinki University Hospital (HUS)
    • Workshop (June 26, 10:00 - 12:00): Rethinking Critical Crisis Themes and Design Directions, Prof. Nitin Sawhney, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University, Dr. Salu Ylirisku, Design Teacher (Senior University Lecturer) at Aalto University

    WEEK 5: Multi-modal Interaction, Design Thinking and Ecologies of Crisis

    • Lecture (June 30): Designing Multi-modal Interfaces for Demanding Conditions in Crisis, Paula Valkonen, Master of Arts, Aalto University and Dr. Jari Laarni, Principal Scientist, VTT

    • Workshop (July 3, 10:00 - 12:00): Mapping Ecologies of Crisis using Design Thinking, Prof. Nitin Sawhney, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University and André Santos, PdP Course Coordinator, Aalto Design Factory, Aalto University

    WEEK 6: Crisis Informatics, Social Media & Ethics of Co-Creation

    • Lecture (July 7): How do Health Agencies use Instagram for Crisis and Emergency Communication? Aqdas Malik, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University
    • Workshop (July 9): EUvsVirus: Ethical and Transdisciplinary Practices when Designing for Societal Issues, Cristina Zaga, Assistant Professor, Human-Centred Design Group, University of Twente

    WEEK 7: Project Concept Presentations

    • July 14: Project Concept Presentations - 10:00 - 13:00
    • 2-week holiday: July 15 - July 29

    Part 2: Ethical Practices and Project Workshops

    For part 2, most sessions are held on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays 10:15 – 11:45. Workshops have extended sessions on Wednesdays 10:15 – 12:45.

    WEEK 8: Reorientation & Project Discussion

    • Reorientation and Projects Discussion (July 31)

    WEEK 9: Ethics, Politics & Practices of AI in Society

    • Lecture (August 3): Ethics and Politics of AI in Society, Prof. Nitin Sawhney, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University
    • Lecture (August 5): AI Ethics in Practice: Designing for Ecosystems, Prof. Nitin Sawhney, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University
    • Workshop (August 7): Decolonizing AI & Rethinking Resistance, Prof. Nitin Sawhney, Department of Computer Science, Aalto University

    WEEK 10-12: Participant-led Workshops 

    • Workshop (August 12): Participant-led Brainstorming Session
    • Workshop (August 19): Purposeful Innovation Skills to Unlock Opportunities in Crises, Floris van der Marel, Pauliina Mattila, Tiina Tuulos, Design Factory, Aalto University
    • Workshop (August 26): Resistance as Change – Power Dynamics, Social Movements & Design Facilitation, Natalia Villaman, MA in Creative Sustainability, Aalto University

    WEEK 13: Final Project Presentations

    • Final Project Presentations (September 2)

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Part 1: Lectures and Participatory Workshops