Enrolment options

Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:

  • map and define current sectors of design research and their relationship to other academic and professional fields;
  • demonstrate reasoned discussion of disciplinary and multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinary academic practices, including their interactions with and the relevances of practice-based research, reflective practice and action research;
  • identify and critically discuss key actors, texts and research practices that are representative of relevant research fields, contextualising their own research against these;

Credits: 2

Schedule: 10.02.2025 - 12.02.2025

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Sampsa Hyysalo

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:

    Design research is a young and rapidly changing field of academic enquiry. It maintains fuzzy borders with its cognate disciplines while also embracing disciplinary, multi-, inter-, cross- and post-disciplinary research practices. The heterogeneity of design research makes it particularly difficult, and interesting, to situate the design researcher and their methodologies, epistemologies and outcomes. Establishing a critical and reasoned position here is challenging, and yet it is an immensely important and, often, overlooked part of doctoral activities.

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Student participation and output is assessed on a pass/fail basis. This, normally, is against the following criteria:

    • 80% attendance and participation in classes;
    • the production and presentation of a portfolio of material developed through the course as a compilation of given assignments that include such activities as literature reviews, directed reading and group or individual presentations as well as notes from readings, classes, group and personal research the portfolio is evaluated according to the requirements of each part. 

     

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    160,2 hrs  to normally include:

    • 40-50 hrs class contact time;
    • 110-120 hrs independent study.

    These are distributed across two x 1 week teaching slots timetabled in Periods 3 and 5 and occasional seminars between.

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The course is delivered through an integrated mixture materials as relevant to disciplinary fields and related fields of design. This includes as indicative reading:

    Baratta, Daniele (2017): The T shaped designer expertise. The reverse-T shaped designer horizon. The Design Journal20(sup1): S4784-S4786.

    Barry, Andrew, Georgina Born, and Gisa Weszkalnys. 2008. Logics of Interdisciplinarity. Economy and Society, 37 (1): 20-49.

    Knorr Cetina, Karin (2001): Objectual practice in T.R. Schatzki, K. Knorr-Cetina and E. Von Savigny (eds.) In: The practice turn in contemporary theory. London: Routledge. pp.184-196.

    Krohn, Wolfgang, and Weyer, Johannes (1994): "Society as a laboratory: The social risks of experimental research." In: Science and public policy 21/3, pp.173-183.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Language: English

    Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Spring III
    2025-2026 Spring III

    Registration:

    Minimum number of participants 8
    Maximum number of participants 20 Registration for courses Sisu. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture, https//www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-at-aalto-arts  

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