Design studies 4, 1.5 credits

Contents

In the course Design Studies students read and discuss texts that address fundamental concepts, ideas, and practices within the design field in various ways. This is to support and develop reading, thinking, and writing as central parts of design work. The purpose of the course is to maintain continuity in working with conceptual and theoretical approaches to, and in, design by reading, writing, reflecting, discussing, and articulating perspectives on and interpretations of design. The course content follows the progression within the program.

The Design Studies 4 course runs in parallel to other courses, and includes scheduled work time equivalent to approximately one day every other week. The course is a separate entity and is based on, but not directly linked to, the content of the parallel courses or projects. Design studies 4 is given in relation to the course: Designing Together.

Expected learning outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding:

(ELO 1) Describe what a design-philosophical approach to design entails and relate this to key concepts and ideas within the design field.

Competence and Skills:

(ELO 2) Read, summarize, present, and discuss design-philosophical and design-historical texts.

Judgment and Approach:

(ELO 3) Reflect orally and in writing on one's own stance and understanding of design based on various design-philosophical, theoretical, and conceptual approaches.

(ELO 4) Identify issues within contemporary international/global design practice and societal development, and critically reflect on Western design history in general, and one's own future professional role in particular.

Required Knowledge

In addition to general eligibility, admission to the course requires that the student has passed courses amounting to at least 75 credits within the Bachelor’s Programme in Industrial Design (DGIND) at Umeå Institute of Design, or the equivalent. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.

Form of instruction

The teaching mainly takes place in the form of seminars, as well as through supervision, presentations, and workshops. The student is expected to engage in self-studies in the form of reading and writing.

Examination modes

All seminars are of a testing nature. Throughout the course, the student submits exercises in connection with the mandatory seminars, which constitute partial examinations. Assessment and grading are based on the student's participation in seminars as well as submitted exercises. The final examination of the course consists of an individual presentation.

In order to pass the course, all assessed assignments must be approved. The final grade for the course is based on an overall assessment and is given as either Fail (U) or Pass (G).

Adapted assesment

For students who have received a decision on recommended support due to a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the form of assessment stated in the course syllabus. Any individual adaptation of the form of assessment shall be considered based on the student’s needs and the course’s expected learning outcomes. For more information, see the Procedure for Support for Students with Disabilities and the Rules for Grades and Examination.

Transfer of credits

A student can receive credit for all or parts of this course if they can present a certificate showing that they have completed and passed an equivalent course. Furthermore, approval by the course responsible teacher is required, based on an assessment of the student’s knowledge level and experience in the subject area concerned. For further information, refer to the Procedure for Credit Transfer on Umeå University's website, www.student.umu.se.

Other regulations

The course Design Studies runs in parallel with other courses.