Design process, 15 ECTS-credits
The first ten weeks of the autumn term of the course provide a deeper understanding of methods and processes applied in industrial design and in the product development process. A special emphasis is put on user centred design in a Scandinavian design tradition in relation to global societal issues. Important aspects of the course include working in design teams, and combining theory and practice through reflecting on the own design process during and after a project in which a user centred design approach is central. During the course, the student works with relating the own design process to theories on design process and design methodology, in order to have a solid understanding of when and how design decisions are made in the process. The student also works with developing the own visualisation skills, mainly focusing on manual sketching techniques and developing a personal style in sketching. The course is structured in four sub-courses:
1. Introductory project, 1,5 credits
The sub-course consists of an introduction to Umeå Institute of Design and the course as a whole. Work methods and educational philosophy are presented and discussed, and a basic introduction is given to the UID infrastructure of facilities, computer systems, economy, and materials (DOLF system), and study techniques. Students carry out a short project with the aim of introducing the methodology of project work and fundamentals of group dynamics.
2. Sketching and idea communication, 3 credits
The sub-course focuses on how to communicate ideas through 2D sketching techniques in different stages of the design process. Emphasis is on the basics of visual communication, and sketching as a tool for ideation and communication. The aim is that students shall gain confidence in clearly communicating ideas, processes, forms and functions visually and orally in different contexts, and to introduce different sketching techniques for different situations and needs. Emphasised during the sub-course is also the process of selection and decision making in relation to concept generation and evaluation. The sub-course also aims to help students develop their personal style and identity in sketching, and to make the most out of the visualisation tools available in order to clearly convey ideas.
3. User centred design process, 7,5 credits
The sub-course is run as a project, in which the design process is focused from a user centric approach. The aim of the sub-course is that the student shall develop a stronger understanding of the own methods of working, and the abilities to communicate these to both design professionals and to non-designers.
Different methods for problem definition, research and user studies, ideation, evaluation, refinement, testing and visualisation are related to a user centred Scandinavian design tradition. The aim of the sub-course is that the students deepens the own skills in and understanding of a systematic and structured design process, in which a user focus is used throughout the whole process, and clearly can communicate, verbally and visually, the own process and the basis of design decisions made during the process. One important focus of the sub-course is working in design teams and sharing ideas and resources in a way that promotes innovation and cooperation, also in individual steps of the process.
4. Design theory and design thinking, 3 credits
The sub-course gives an orientation in research and writing in design theory, with a special focus on the area of design thinking. During the sub-course, the student will work with reflection on the own design process and approach to design, and relates aspects of this to theories and perspectives within design. One important outcome of the sub-course is that the student can describe and critically reflect on the design process from a subjective as well as from an objective standpoint.
Visual communication, 15 ECTS-credits
The last ten weeks of autumn term focus on visual communication in the design field. This course provides an overview of and introduction to the visualisation methods used in different stages of the design process, ranging from idea sketching to presentation sketches, graphic design and other digital visualisation tools. The main aim of the course is that the student shall be able to choose between different visualisation methods for different situations, and use design as a strategic tool in order to give a comprehendible view and a shared understanding of a complex problem. Emphasis is on using visualisation as a tool for communication of design problems, design methods and design concepts, using adequate methods and means in different contexts. A large part of the sub-course focuses how to use design methods and processes to understand and exemplify methods, concepts, data and relationships - design related or not. The course is structured in three sub-courses:
1. Strategic information design, 7,5 credits
The sub course introduces the field of information design from an industrial design perspective, and is run in project form. The aim of the sub-course is that the student shall apply design tools and design methodology in a context where the design process can be used to understand, problematize, explain and visualise complex problems, contexts, processes or situations. A strong focus is on working with finding design opportunities and defining design problems in large organisations, companies or societal structures or phenomena, working with methods for research, evaluation and innovation. During the project, the students work with visualisation methods and techniques related to this, mainly in the fields of graphic design and typography, with the aims of using visualisations for facilitating discussions, testing, decision-making and communication. The basics of communication theory and graphic design are introduced. Throughout the project, a strong emphasis is on user participation in the design process and on the role of the industrial designer in leading design innovation and design processes.
2. Visualisation techniques, 3 credits
The sub-course aims to developing a personal style and approach to visualisation of different kinds. An aim is to further strengthen the student's skills in manual and computer aided sketching, also allowing for artistic explorations into visualisations of abstract concepts. Through this approach, awareness of different cultural visual codes and communication practices is highlighted, and students should be able to document their visualisation process, and explain and argue for choices, selections, references and cultural understandings in relation to this.
3. Visual storytelling, 3 credits
The sub-course introduces the basics in visual storytelling, relating narrative techniques and different visual media to the field of design. An introduction to the basics of structuring and sharpening different kinds of narratives - visual, oral and written - is given during the sub-course. Students work with visual analysis and visual narratives in relation to identity and intention individually and in groups, finding ways to visually communicate a story or a message.
Design argumentation, 15 ECTS-credits
The first ten weeks of spring term focus on different ways used for communicating, justifying and arguing for design processes, design thinking and design skills in different social contexts. Included are portfolio work, professional English, argumentation techniques and oral presentation, design writing and individual project work. The aim is to give the student the necessary tools to work professionally in communicating the own ways of working and thinking, from "elevator pitching" a design proposal to holding a full project presentation, writing CVs, business letters, project documentation and reports. Included in the different sub-courses is a strong emphasis on communication, and on how you as a designer strategically can emphasise different aspects of a design project for different audiences, using different tools, techniques and rhetorics. The course is structured in four sub-courses:
1. Portfolio, 3 credits
The aim of the sub-course is that the student actively reflects on the roles of portfolios in the design profession, and produces portfolio material communicating the skills, strengths, capabilities and identity of the student in visual, textual and graphic form. The aim is that the student shall find ways to document and demonstrate the own design process and results of project work, in relation to the cultural, social and professional contexts of design portfolios. The sub-course includes orientations in formulating CVs, presenting portfolios in person or through supporting media, visual analysis and narratives in portfolios, and career planning.
2. Oral presentation and communication, 1,5 credits.
The sub-course focuses oral presentations as an important communicative and argumentative tool in professional situations. Students practice different ways of presenting a certain message in different contexts. This includes body language, improvisation, storytelling, argumentation and rhetorics, design specific vocabularies and how to use technical and visual support in presentations. The aim is to give students a good foundation in different presentation techniques, and to work with each student's strengths in and awareness of presentation as a tool in order to develop the students' confidence and skills in different presentation situations.
3. Design writing, 3 credits
The sub-course focuses on writing as a tool for designers in creative processes, documentation, communication and information. The aim of the sub-course is that the student shall be able to use writing as a support in many kinds of different aspects of professional life, ranging from writing business letters, applications and project reports to press releases, scenarios, marketing and research texts. Through practical exercises, peer-review work and tutoring, the students work with their own process of writing through reflecting on different uses of language, different genres and the formal aspects connected to these. The sub-course includes training in professional English for designers, as well as basics in academic writing.
4. Project work, 7,5 credits
During the sub-course, the students work in a project of their own choice, from problem formulation to final concept proposal. Focus of the sub-course is on the student's ability to independently identify a relevant design opportunity, and plan and conduct an individual design project from problem definition to a finished design concept within the given time frame, and to dimension the aims and methods of the project to the circumstances. As part of the examination, the student shall in tutoring sessions and in the final presentation, work with oral, visual and in written accounts for the design process from a user centred focus. Throughout the project, and in the final presentations, a clear focus is on argumentation and decision making in different steps of the design process, where the student shall work with showing how necessary facts, societal contexts and a user centred focus are linked to the methods, techniques and tools that were chosen to execute, explain and visualise the project process and project result.
Design business, 15 ECTS-credits
The aim of the last ten weeks of the course is to situate the industrial design profession in a larger business context, in order for the student to better understand how to communicate the own skills and the relevance of design practice and design thinking in situations internal as well as external to the design field. The student should develop the own understanding of the roles of industrial designers in the development of products and services as well as in the development of organisations and companies. Focus in this course is on relating the professional roles of the industrial designer to project management and how to work successfully in teams and groups. Areas covered are the historical and current roles of the industrial designer, project management, group dynamics and working in project teams, basics in marketing and business related to entrepreneurship and starting up a company. Throughout the course, students work with cases or projects that link the theoretical and practical parts of the different sub-courses, in order to situate students' knowledge and promote reflection upon the own learning as well as group development. The course is structured in five sub-courses:
1. Project management and group dynamics, 3 credits
The sub-course introduces the basics of group dynamics, how groups develop and how teams work in relation to tasks, social aspects, communication, results and innovation. Included are basics on organisational theory and structure, and how this affects ways of working. Related to this is how the roles of industrial designers can function in different groups, and in different project management situations.
2. Marketing and business basics, 3 credits
The aim of the sub-course is to introduce the students to structures, workflows, mechanisms and rhetorics in business and marketing in public and private sectors. Focus is especially on areas related to design in order for the students to understand ways of professional work and expressions in these areas in order to be able to communicate efficiently and strategically from the designer's point of view. During the sub-course, the student is introduced to decision-making processes, basic marketing practices, segmentation models, and how these are related to strategic and practical decisions that affect designers.
3. Entrepreneurship, 3 credits
The sub-course provides an overview of what the student needs to know and do in order to start up and run a business, from idea management and intellectual properties to business plans, documentation etcetera. Teaching includes topics such as different forms of business enterprise, paying tax and business insurance, getting started with marketing, long term competitive advantages and IPR, how to finance and expand a business, international trading, SWOT analysis, trend analysis, creative analysis and target group definition.
4. The role of the industrial designer, 3 credits
The sub-course gives an overview of the history of industrial design, starting in the 1850s and with focus on social context, ideas and styles in Western Europe and USA. Special attention is given to the roots of the industrial design profession, and to ideals and expectations related to it. A study is made of how consultancies, companies, design educations and other institutions relevant to the establishment of the design profession understand and express the essence of the designer role today and tendencies for the future of industrial design and the roles of designers.
5. Professional design communication, 3 credits
The aim of the sub course is that the student shall analyse and compare how design problems, design processes and design concepts are communicated through different media and in different situations: in exhibitions, in oral presentations and in digital and printed materials. The student shall as part of the examination of the sub-course carry out an individual public presentation of the own portfolio in a professional design context, and reflect on the preparations made as well as the presentation situation itself.
