LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
- recognize different career paths for designers in culture, private and public sector.
- articulate a personal direction for what to pursue upon the completion of their studies.
- recognize basic principles for sustaining a professional career as a designer as well as compile and present some of their design capabilities in marketable design offerings and/or services.
- create a professional narrative in which they document and present their design expertise and experiences in audiovisual or/and textual form.
Credits: 6
Schedule: 13.01.2025 - 06.06.2025
Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Hanna-Kaarina Heikkilä, Tarja Nieminen, Namkyu Chun
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 course represents the final major course in the English-medium BA in Design and is designed to assist students in articulating for themselves and others what they have done throughout their studies and what they desire to pursue next.
The course is organized around a lecture and in-class exercise series with accompanying assignments through which students are challenged to reflect on what they have learnt and produced throughout their studies as well as the expanding role of design in society today. The focus of the discussion is on the professional landscape for design and the various ways through which designers develop and sustain a professional career over time. Topics discussed throughout the course include design work in public and private organizations, foundational principles for the design profession and consulting and life-long learning in design.
While developing a professional narrative, students can compile a portfolio to showcase their personal interests and expertise in design. They also revisit a prior/ongoing study project and improve upon it based on the knowledge and skills their professional narrative; e.g. repositioning a past project in relation to current developments and/or improve upon its execution to be showcased in an exhibition.
Part of the course is organized in collaboration with Design Impact I and II.
See the final outcomes from earlier years: https://www.aalto.fi/en/aalto-art-and-design-cases/2023-design-impact-iii-outcomes
Assessment Methods and Criteria
valid for whole curriculum period:
The final grade for the course is based on in-class activity and the individual assignments that students complete throughout the course.
Students must attend and display active participation in at least 80% of the contact sessions. Participation in the introduction lecture as well as all presentations is mandatory.
Workload
valid for whole curriculum period:
The total workload for the course amounts to 162 hours (I ECTS credits = 27 hours).
- Contact teaching 56 hours
- Presentations and final event 14 hours
- Individual and group work 75 hours
- Personal reflection 16 hours
- Giving course feedback 1 hour
DETAILS
Study Material
valid for whole curriculum period:
Readings as provided in class.
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 III - V
2025-2026 Spring III - VRegistration:
Open only for the students in English-medium BA programme in Design. The course has 42 study places. A minimum of 15 students are required for running the course. Registration for courses Sisu.