Skills and Techniques, APD, 7.5 credits

Contents

This course serves as an introduction to the Advanced Product Design Programme where the students are asked to solve a short design problem based on the skills obtained from previous undergraduate studies. The project will primarily deal with form theory and includes a short course on this subject. A secondary purpose is to give the staff an idea of the individual student’s basic skills and talents, to identify the possible need of special studies or tutoring. A number of basic design tools and techniques will also be introduced as well as a workshop qualification course.

Course Section 1: Joint project, 1.5 credits
Students from the Interaction Design, Advanced Product Design and Transportation Design carry out a short, one-week joint design project. This exercise consists of a task to be solved in multidisciplinary groups.

Course Section 2: Introductory form studies and techniques: 6 credits
This section involves the design of a simple product in which form is the primary consideration. The students are introduced to car clay as a sketching media, as well as different types of foam for making sketch models. No computer skills are required for this project. This section also includes a one-week workshop qualification course for those not possessing workshop authorizations.

Expected learning outcomes

After having completed the course, the student will be able to:

• use resources available when studying at Umeå Institute of Design.
• work in in teams with students from other backgrounds, cultures, and understandings of design.
• demonstrate their skills in sketching and their knowledge and attitude of basic design.
• use the school’s workshop equipment in a correct and safe manner.

Required Knowledge

Univ: In order to be admitted to the course, students must have completed a BA in Industrial Design or the equivalent.
Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B (IELTS (Academic) with a minimum overall score of 6.5 and no individual score below 5.5. TOEFL PBT (Paper-based Test) with a minimum score of 575 and a minimum TWE score of 4.5). TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) with a minimum score of 90 and a minimum score of 20 on the Writing Section). Where the language of instruction is Swedish, applicants must prove proficiency in Swedish to the level required for basic eligibility for higher studies.

Form of instruction

The teaching is in the form of lectures and practical training under the supervision of tutors. In the workshop, exercises will be carried out under the guidance of authorised teachers. All sections in the course are obligatory.

Examination modes

Examination in this case refers to the list of deliverables as stated in the project brief presented at the beginning of the course. This usually includes digital and 3D presentations of the project solution as well as an oral presentation and a written report based on the student’s design brief and including relevant research results, the used work method, sketching and the final results as well as a conclusion.
In order to pass the entire course, the student must complete all of the various exercises and obligatory assignments and these must be approved. The grade Fail (U) or Pass (G) is a summary of the results of the various course elements and is given first after the final presentation is approved.

For students who have not obtained the grade Pass, other examination sessions will be arranged. A student who for two consecutive examinations for the same course or sub-course has not been passed, has the right to have another examiner appointed, if there are no special reasons against this (Higher Education Ordinance chapter 6, 22 §). The request for a new examiner shall be made in writing to the Head of Department at Umeå Institute of Design.

ACADEMIC CREDIT TRANSFER
Students have the right to request that previous studies, or equivalent knowledge and skills acquired in a professional, work-related capacity, be validated and transferred into credits on an equivalent course or programme at Umeå University.  Applications for credit transfer should be addressed to Student Services/Degree Evaluation Office. More information can be found at the Umeå University student web site (www.student.umu.se/english) and in Chapter 6 of the Higher Education Ordinance.  Appeals may be made to the Higher Education Appeals Board (ÖNH) against a decision by the university not to approve an application for credit transfer (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 12), even in cases where only a part of the application has been rejected.