Topic outline

  • Course work (as well as evaluation) consists of session-related independent assignments (30% of grade evaluation), group work on conceptual design (30%), and a personal learning diary (40%) which needs to cover the topics assigned in the course schedule. The assignments are listed below and in the course schedule.


      • Test your own carbon footprint with SITRA's lifestyle calculator at https://lifestyletest.sitra.fi/
      • You do not need to submit anything else than the your score at the  at https://flinga.fi/s/FQH5S2W . The whiteboard prompts also a question of whether you think your footprint is big or small. Please use this option to think how we think of entitlement and a fair share of carbon emission budget.
      • DL see the course schedule

      • Search for and select two labels for sustainability,  preferably from different areas / of different type.
      • Find out who has created and issues the label, and what criteria it has.
      • Upload as a single file with two label images / logos and the explanation texts to MyCourses by 4.5. at 16:00.


    • Products and services communicate sustainability with different means. Labels and product standards are formalized and often quantified 'proofs' of sustainability. However, visual and textual means can also indicate sustainability in less formalized ways. For this exercise you should search for representations of sustainability that are interesting, surprising, unconventional and perhaps also controversial.

      Semiotics is a study of meanings, language and communication. You can find inspiration for this exercise from reading Susan Vihma's text in the reading list. She e.g. distinguishes iconic, indexical and symbolic meanings attached to products.  

      Exercise: Select one product/service that communicates sustainability effectively, interestingly or in a contraversial way. Submit a single file by Monday 8.5. at 12 with needed images and short paragraph (appr 200words)  of what you think is going on in terms of communication and meanings related to sustainability.


    • Part 1 (after session 5 on Fri 12.5.): Select a topic for the exercise and begin research on its sustainability impacts

      • Pick a topic for exercise (product/material/service-system; See session 5 slides)
      • Identify main materials, processes, stakeholders
      • Identify major sustainability issues and impacts along the life phases

      Part 2 (after session 6, Mon 15.5.): Redesign ideation – suggest improvements

      • Redesign your focus product/system/material use
      • Reflect on improvements (materials, processes, system)

      Produce a poster and pitch talk (for session 7, Fri 19.5.): Communicate sustainability improvements

      • Produce a poster (PDF) to communicate results, and upload here by Friday 8 am!
      • Two options for the layout:
        1) Landscape layout with one page, with topic, assessment and redesign on right 
        2) Landscape layout with two pages, with topic and assessment on first page and redesign on the next one
      • Include your main findings as text and add also some images (see session 6 slides for an example)
      • Prepare and present max 3 min pitch for session 7 (19.5.), introducing the selected topic and itse justifications, main sustainability concerns, and suggested redesign with sustainability improvements
      • Check your group and classroom for presentation sessions from the announcements!

    • The aim of the case work is to develop a design, service or communication concept around the sustainabilility aspects of three areas of materials use: Plastics, Concrete and Biomaterials.

      For the interim check, the groups agree with tutor on Zoom slots for the session, and they need to prepare a few slides presentation of their idea (pp, pdf), We have 3 parallel Zoom-sessions (based on themes) to manage the number of groups.


      Name your file: group number_project name_ideas
      Upload your presentation here by Monday 
      29th of May noon.

      Schedule for Monday tutoring sessions in Zoom (29.5.)
      TBA


      (No evaluation)

    • The aim of the case work is to develop a design, service or communication concept around the sustainabilility aspects of three areas of materials use: Plastics, Concrete and Biomaterials.

      For the final deliverable, the groups need to prepare presentation slides of their design concept (PPT, PDF), and present it (15 min. presentation + 5 min. discussion / group). We have 3 parallel sessions (based on themes) to manage the number of groups.


      Name your file: group number_project name_final
      Upload your presentation here by Monday 
      5th of June noon (one group member uploads)

      Presentation has to include: Name of the concept, team members, selected waste stream, selected approach, target group/users, arguments for the sustainability, proposed solution(s). Don't include too much text, and keep your message clear. And the presentation time is strict. 
      You are supposed to follow the whole session. 

      Schedule for Monday final presentations (5.6.)
      See Announcement

      Evaluation: Idea and informativeness (concept development), clarity (communication), argumentation (sustainability).


    • Learning diary is an edited compilation of texts (Word or PDF) that revisit topics that are discussed during sessions, or related to exercises and groupwork. It consists of several roughly one-page long entries, and it should altogether be about 5-7 pages, or around 2000-3000 words in length.

      In your learning diary, go through the weekly topics, and revisit at least the following:

      • What level in sustainable design action is most important? How are levels connected? [week 1]
      • Pick a product/service that communicates sustainability interestingly: reflect what/how and how effectively does it communicate. [week 2]
      • How comprehensive is the understanding on sustainability challenges? Reflect on controversies and contradictions from a design perspective. [week 3]
      • Reflect on your assessment and redesign exercise (sessions 5-7). [week 4]
      • Reflect on the process and results of your groupwork (sessions 8-12). [weeks 5-7]
      • You can also add reflection and ideas of development and future topics for the course as a whole.

      Upload by the end of the course. Official deadline is June 11th Sunday.