Designing for People 12 credits

About the course

The course consists of four modules:

Project Preparations, 1.5 credits

Here, the student receives an introduction to user studies, their origins, and current use in design practice. The module includes methods for user studies, observations, and activity analysis, as well as a comprehensive introduction to qualitative and quantitative methods for collecting user data.

Learning Goals: ELO 1

Theme Week: Sociopolitical Issues, Movements, and Contexts, 1.5 credits

The module focuses on exploring societal sociopolitical issues and phenomena relevant to the design field. The module constitutes a theme that spans across the years of the bachelor's program.

Learning Goals: ELO 2

Project Work, 6 credits

Here, the student performs a design project with a real-world context in collaboration with an external partner from industry, the public sector, or a non-profit organization. The student receives training in independently managing complex design-related problems based on real situations. In the project work, the student develop their ability to work creatively with design and to use sketching and modeling techniques in a communicative way. The project is mainly structured according to current design process models.

Learning objectives: ELO 3, ELO 4, ELO 5, ELO 6, ELO 7

Project Communication, 3 credits

In the final module, the student will process the project work to present its process and results both visually and verbally to an interested public, and reflect on what such a result might mean from a sustainability perspective. Here, the student will also reflect on their own learning.

Learning objectives: ELO 6, ELO 8, ELO 9

Show syllabus

This course is part of a programme

This course contains occasions that are included in a degree programme at Umeå university and applies only to those of you who are admitted to the programme. You will receive information about application times and what applies to you from your institution.

Read about choosing courses within programmes

Apply

Spring 2027
- Designing for People
  
  Offered as a part of a Degree programme
  
  VT27 / Umeå / English / On site
  
  Application opens 15 September 2026
  
  Save education at universityadmissions.se
  
  Show more Show less
  
  Starts
  25 March 2027
  
  Ends
  6 June 2027
  
  Number of credits
  12 credits
  
  Type of studies
  On site
  
  Study pace
  100%
  
  Teaching hours
  Daytime
  
  Study location
  Umeå
  
  Language
  English
  
  Application code
  UMU-5200D
  
  Eligibility
  
  In addition to general eligibility, admission to the course requires at least 15 credits completed in the Bachelor's Programme in Industrial Design (DGIND), or equivalent and English B/6
  
  Selection
  
  Is only given for students at programme DGIND, Guaranteed place
  
  Application
  The online application opens 15 September 2026 at 09:00 CET. Application deadline is 15 October 2026.
  
  Application and tuition fees
  As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
  
  Application fee: SEK 900
  
  Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 0
  
  Total fee: SEK 0
  
  Details about tuition, fees and funding

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