Staging co-creation, 7.5 credits

Contents

This course introduces co-design and participatory design methodologies and provides practical experience in performing co-creation design processes together with users and stakeholders with a focus on service design. The learning is supported by exploring various ways to visualise, represent and communicate information and processes.

Expected learning outcomes

After completion of the course, the student should be able to: 

Knowledge and understanding 

• Demonstrate knowledge of the historical roots and various approaches in participatory design and its relation to sustainability and inclusivity.

Competence and Skills 

• Plan and stage co-design/participatory design workshops with users and other stakeholders in service design situations.

• Visually explore how to prompt and guide action in co-design and participatory design processes. 

• Explore how to communicate information and processes in two- and three-dimensional form in service design 

Judgement and Approach 

• Select and plan co-creation activities in service design.

• Account for possibilities and challenges that can emerge when staging co-design/participatory design activities with users and stakeholders.

Required Knowledge

A Bachelor's degree or equivalent first-cycle qualification comprising of at least 180 ECTS or a corresponding qualification from an internationally recognized university. Specific entry requirements are: 60 ECTS credits in the field of Design. Student must have passed all previous master courses in the Interaction Design (IxD) program at Umeå Institute of Design or the equivalent. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.

Form of instruction

Teaching methods include lectures, tutoring, seminars, practical assignments and sometimes in the form of project work.

Examination modes

Examination is carried out orally, visually and in writing, individually and in groups. Examination is carried out throughout the course, through exercises and mandatory deliverables and assignments. 
After completing the course, one of the grades Fail (U) or Pass (G) is awarded the student. In order to pass the entire course, the student must complete all mandatory assignments, and these must be approved. The final grade is based on a collected assessment of the results during the course as a whole, and is given only when all mandatory assignments and deliverables have been approved. For the grade Pass, the student must participate in all mandatory teacher and tutor led education and deliver the required mandatory presentations.

Deviations from the course syllabus examination form can be made for a student who has a decision on pedagogical support due to disability. Individual adaptation of the examination form should be considered based on the student's needs. The examination form is adapted within the framework of the expected syllabus of the course syllabus. At the request of the student, the course responsible teacher, in consultation with the examiner, must promptly decide on the adapted examination form. The decision must then be communicated to the student.

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.