Course syllabus

Universal design, projekt
Universal Design, Project

TNSF02, 5 credits, G2 (First Cycle)

Valid for: 2016/17
Decided by: Education Board E
Date of Decision: 2016-04-04

General Information

Main field: Industrial Design.
Compulsory for: KID2
Language of instruction: The course will be given in English on demand

Aim

In a society for all, environments, products and services are designed having in mind that every person is an individual and has individual capabilities, that also vary over time. This course focuses on Universal Design both as a process and as a result, with Universal design described as the design of products, services and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

The aim of the course is that the industrial design students learn how to, in their future professional roles, can take into account people's different conditions and abilities and contribute to the design of products, services and environments that that are useworthy for to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible. Furthermore, the student is trained to propose and implement possible improvements to products, services and environments so that they better meet the criteria for universal, inclusive design. The course covers the process (how to generate new designs) and also the evaluation of results.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to identify, analyze and make suggestions to the design of products, services or environments based on universal design and to describe how these contribute to an open and inclusive society for all.

Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to develop a product, service and environment taking people's different cognitive and physical conditions and abilities into account. This is carried out in groups in co-operation with engineering students.
• be able to apply the seven principles of universal design when developing products, services and environments.
• be able to identify wider application areas for developed products.
• be able to apply a user-centred design methodology.
• be able to combine subjective and objective methods when assessing products, services and environments.
• be able to present methods and results orally and in writing for a diverse audience.
• be able to present the results as a functional model, a visual model and in a product information sheet.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• describe the quest that lies in the design of products and services so they are aesthetic and useful to as many people as possible regardless of age and ability.
• to take into account that people are different with a great variety of conditions and abilities and that they have different desires and needs.
• be able able to express how universal design contributes to an inclusive society.

 

Contents

The course consists of a project that is carried out with engineering students in the Rehabilitation Engineering and Design course.

The project will result in a prototype af an universally designed product, environment or service. The course is problem based and project oriented.

Examination details

Grading scale: UG
Assessment: The assessment will be based on group work. A passing grade will be given to students who pass a project carried out in groups.

Admission

Admission requirements:

• At least 75 credits awarded or credited within the Industrial Design Programme

Required prior knowledge: TNSA01 Universal Design, theory; and MAMA05 Cognitive and Physical Ergonomics (or TNS112 Cognitive Ergonomics and MAM081 Physical Ergonomics).
The number of participants is limited to: No
The course overlaps following course/s: TNSF01, TNS120, TNX153

Reading list

• Jönsson, B m fl: Människonära design. Studentlitteratur, 2005, ISBN: 978-91-44-04494-1. Optional literature! English edition: Jönsson, B (ed.): Design Side by Side. Studentlitteratur 2006. ISBN:978-91-44-01936-9. The book can be downloaded from http://www.arkiv.certec.lth.se/doc/designsidebyside .
• The Delta Centre: Trends in Universal Design. The Delta Centre, 2013, ISBN: 978-82-8003-101-3. Download the book from: http://www.bufdir.no/global/nbbf/universell_utforming/Trends_in_Universal_Design.PDF.
• Caltenco et al: Universal Design 2014, Three Days of Creativity and Diversity. IOS Press, 2014, ISBN: 978-1-61499-403-9. Download from: http://ebooks.iospress.nl/volume/universal-design-2014-three-days-of-creativity-and-diversity.
• Additional literature will be based on the project work.

Contact and other information

Examinator: Per-Olof Hedvall, tekn dr, per-olof.hedvall@certec.lth.se
Course coordinator: Håkan Eftring, universitetslektor, tekn dr, hakan.eftring@certec.lth.se
Course homepage: http://www.certec.lth.se/english/education/