Topic outline

  • General

    Thematic Studio II spring schedule and materials are found below. The topic for this year is Safety and Security in the Digital Domain. The course is organized as follows:

    Graphic of course timeline.

    Period III

    Week 1
    Tue 10.01. 09.15–17.00  Y307a - Kickoff, group formation
    Wed 11.01. 11.00–17.00  A1-A123 - Group mingling, guest lecture by Laura Euro

    Week 2
    Tue 17.01. 09.15–17.00  U9-U271 - Final group formation, benchmarking lecture and group work
    Wed 18.01. 10.00–17.00  A1-A123 - Guest lectures, Guest lecture by Waltteri Jokela and another by Antti Hietaniemi

    Week 3
    Tue 24.01. 09.15–17.00  Online (Zoom) - Tutoring for benchmarking report, finalizing report (you can use U271 for your groupwork if needed)
    Wed 25.01. - Benchmarking report DL
    Thu 26.01. 09.15–12.00  U9-U271 - Ideation lecture and workshop exercise

    Week 4
    Tue 31.01. 09.15–17.00  Online (Zoom) - Tutoring for idea presentations 9–12, independent work otherwise
    Thu 02.02. 09.15–12.00  U9-U271 - Idea presentations

    Week 5
    Tue 07.02. 09.15–17.00  Online (Zoom, not U271) - Diffusion lecture and group work
    Thu 09.02. 09.15–12.00  Online (Zoom) - Tutoring for diffusion essay

    Week 6
    Tue 14.02. 09.15–17.00  U9-U271 - Instructions for Mid-project presentations, group work
    Wed 15.02. 13.15–17.00  A1-A123 - TS1 Mid-project presentations, TS2 as opponents.
    Thu 16.02. 09.15–12.00  Online (Zoom) - Tutoring for mid-project presentations

    Week 7 - MID-PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
    Wed 22.02. 09.30–14.30  A1-A123 - Presentations with TS1 students as opponents
    Fri 24.02. - Diffusion report DL

    Period IV

    Week 8
    Mon 27.02. 13.15–15.00  Independent work, no meeting
    Thu 02.03. 09.15–17.00  Online (Zoom) - Project work tutoring

    Week 9
    Mon 06.03. 13.15–15.00  A2-A215 - Scenarios lecture
    Thu 09.03. 09.15–17.00  Online (Zoom) - Project work tutoring

    Week 10
    Mon 13.03. 13.15–15.00  (A2-A215) - Independent work
    Thu 16.03. 09.15–17.00  Online (Zoom) - Project work tutoring

    Week 11
    Mon 20.03. 13.15–15.00  (A2-A215) - Independent work
    Thu 23.03. 09.15–17.00  Online (Zoom) - Project work tutoring

    Week 12
    Mon 27.03. 13.15–15.00  A2-A215 - Evaluation tutorial and tips
    Thu 30.03. 09.15–17.00  Online (Zoom) - Project work tutoring

    Week 13
    Mon 03.04. 13.15–15.00  A2-A215 - Testing day with TS1
    Thu 06.04. Easter Holiday – no teaching

    Week 14
    Mon 10.04. Easter Holiday – no teaching
    Thu 13.04. 09.15–17.00  Online (Zoom) - Tutoring in the morning, Info on final presentation & report in the afternoon.

    Week 15 -  FINAL PRESENTATIONS
    Wed 19.04. 13.15–16.15  TS1 opponent duty
    @ Väre, R028/010 K Corridor (in front of 3D print) & R028/Q019 Kipsari Lobby

    Thu 20.04. 09.45–15.00 TS2 final presentations
    @ Otakaari 5, Jeti-A208d

    Mon 08.05. - Final report DL

    • forum icon
      Announcements Forum
    • url icon
      Materials URL

      You can find additional reading materials and uploaded lecture slides here.

    • url icon
      Groups URL
      Not available unless: You belong to L01 (SISU)

      Groups are formed and listed here.

    • url icon
      Assignments and grading URL

      Assignments and grading criteria are found here.

    • url icon
      Booking timeslots (Excel) URL
      Not available unless: You belong to L01 (SISU)

      Use this spreadsheet to book timeslots for presentations and tutoring.

    • url icon
      Videocall link (Zoom) URL
      Not available unless: You belong to L01 (SISU)

      This is the Zoom call for remote lectures and tutoring sessions.

    • url icon
      File sharing (Onedrive) URL
      Not available unless: You belong to L01 (SISU)

      You can share large files through here.

    • url icon
      Recordings of presentations (Panopto) URL
      Not available unless: You belong to L01 (SISU)

      Here are the recordings from the mid-project and final presentations in Panopto.

  • Materials

    Safety and security in the digital domain


    Scenarios

    Benchmarking


    Systems thinking

    Donella H. Meadows: Thinking in Systems: A Primer (2008):

    Optional reading: 

    Diffusion and domestication


    Group project work & communication

    Great teamwork guide from the Aalto Thesis team, applicable for all collaborative work:
    https://www.aalto.fi/en/aalto-thesis/teamwork-aalto-thesis-student-guide

    Similar project work guide from the Aalto Thesis team:
    https://www.aalto.fi/en/aalto-thesis/project-work-aalto-thesis-student-guide

    Guidebook: Communication in the Real World (University of Minnesota 2016), especially chapters:

  • Assignments and Grading

    To pass the course, students need to complete the given assignments (see below), actively participate in class – 80% attendance is required, create a concept and an early prototype, and document their progress in a report. In the project phase the groups keep a diary of the tutoring meetings where they present their progress to the tutors. Grades will be based on the successful completion of the steps, the quality of the report and other written assignments, and the design outcome. More detailed requirements for each milestone are provided below.

    We definitely encourage you to submit the assignments in time, so after the deadline each day will earn you a minus point for the grade of the particular deliverable. If there is a force majeure contact us in advance and not after the deadline.

    Benchmarking report (DL 25.1.)

    • A report documenting 5–6 cases you analyzed
    • Start with a one-paragraph "executive summary" – just call it Summary
    • Use screenshots and photos (where applicable) to illustrate the discussion
    • Recommended maximum length: six A4 pages
    • Graded 0–5 based on the quality of writing, structure, choice and analysis of the cases, argumentation, and results that support the following stages
    • Submitted as a PDF through MyCourses, see below
    • Deadline: January 25 at 23:59

    Idea presentation (DL 2.2.)

    • A presentation about your project idea to other groups: what is it, why would it be worth pursuing?
    • Maximum duration: 10 minutes + 10 for discussion (rehearse the timings!)
    • Graded 0–5 based on the quality of presentation, insight, relevance of the topic, argumentation that supports the idea, use of examples, and structure. Do not go into overtime.
    • Deadline: February 2
    • Submit your slides below so that we can check them again

    Diffusion essay (DL 24.2.)

    • A reflective essay on the diffusion of an innovation that relates to your project
    • Choose the exact topic yourself – confirm with us first
    • Discuss at least the topics of (see the slides):
      • Innovation-decision process
      • Perceived attributes of innovations
      • Adopter groups
    • If some part of the theory doesn't apply, you can say that too
    • Maximum length: four A4 pages
    • Graded 0–5 based on the quality of writing, reflection, structure and use of theory. Remember to cover all the three topics mentioned above.
    • Submitted as a PDF through MyCourses, see below
    • Deadline: February 24 at 23:59 (moved from Feb 15)

    Mid-project presentation (DL 22.2.)

    • Presentation on your groupwork idea
    • Maximum duration: 20 minutes + 10 for discussion (rehearse the timings!)
    • What is your project all about? Why is it important? How do you pursue your goals? What is the expected outcome? Who is your target audience?
    • You can use material from the idea presentation, diffusion essay and benchmarking
    • Graded 0–5 based on the quality of presentation, use of examples, viability of the proposal, argumentation, and structure. Do not go into overtime.
    • Deadline: February 22

    Final presentation (DL 20.4.)

    • Presentation of the final work you did, be it a prototype, well-developed concept or something else
    • Maximum duration: 20 minutes + 10 for discussion (rehearse the timings!)
    • Focus on your process and progress, present concrete steps and outcomes
    • Dare to show dead ends and discarded ideas too
    • Graded 0–10 based on the quality of presentation, structure, outcome of the project (quality, extent, relevance), and discussion of your design process. Again, do not go into overtime.
    • Deadline: April 20

    Final report (DL 8.5.)

    • Recommended length: 10–12 A4 pages
    • Include in the report at least a description of your concept, your progress, the outcome, testing results, your own reflection on the shortcomings and merits of the project, and future development ideas
    • Again, start with a one-paragraph summary that crystallizes your concept, main findings and next steps
    • Use visual material such as mockups, sketches and screenshots
    • Graded 0–10 based on the quality of writing, structure, documentation of your progress, argumentation, and in particular reflection – honest assessment of the merits and shortcomings of your work
    • Deadline: May 8


    Grading

    • 20–23: 1 (passable)
    • 24–27: 2 (satisfactory)
    • 28–31: 3 (good)
    • 32–35: 4 (very good)
    • 36–40: 5 (excellent)

  • Groups

    Groups, their members and topics


    Group 1

    Members: Sasha, Leo, Mariam, Satu, Lilo
    Topic: Digital literacy

    Group 2

    Members: Marta, Inga, Elisabeth, Margo
    Topic: Providing security for individuals in urban areas

    Group 3

    Members: Hitomi, Soyoung, Katarina
    Topic: Sensorial experience for emotional safety

    Group 4

    Members: Mathilda, Nicole "Nici", Owein, Yuzu
    Topic: Harassment prevention through digital services

    Group 5

    Members: Michelle, Harim, Wen, Jessica, Vilis
    Topic: Helping hand for seniors

    Group 6

    Members: Tiina, Emilie, Saara, Natasa
    Topic: The future of digital immortality