Course syllabus

Designmetodik
Design Methodology

IDEA75, 5 credits, G1 (First Cycle)

Valid for: 2021/22
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering, LTH
Decided by: PLED ID
Date of Decision: 2021-04-22

General Information

Main field: Technology.
Compulsory for: MD3
Language of instruction: The course will be given in Swedish

Aim

To provide an overview of the structure of a design process and to introduce the basics of various methods used by professional industrial designers to carry a design project forward, e.g. different methods used in various steps of the design process from problem description to design solution. Hence, to give insight into how industrial designers communicate their work process. In addition to lectures on how a design process is structured and relevant methods for practical accomplish a design project; the course is also building on the student carrying out, under supervision, exercises in order to practically try out their knowledge about presented methods.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

Demonstrate an:
- understanding of the use of the methods presented in the course in relation to realization of a design project.
 - understanding of the structure and complexity of the design process through practical experience.

 

Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must

- within the given timeframe, demonstrate an ability to apply (individually / in groups) their new knowledge, with guidance, to realize a design project from problem to concept idea.

 - demonstrate the ability to with guidance, describe the carried out design project in a written documentation in which both the design process and the end result in form of a design concept is presented.

- demonstrate the ability to orally present, in seminars, the carried out design project for the other participants in the course supported by a visual / graphic presentation.

 

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

- demonstrate the ability to reflect on the use of methods in the design process and to critically analyse over his/ her own work.

- reflect the cultural mission, the ethical responsibility of the designer and a sustainable development of society.

Contents

The course starts with an introduction lecture, which aims to provide an overview of methods used to analyze and structure the work in a design process. The theoretical and methodological approach is then used in several practical exercises throughout the course. To provide the students with tools supporting them to be able to work in a design process by themselves the course introduced different ways to plan, organize and implement a design assignment, and in addition problem solving methods are presented. Previously acquired skills such as sketching, computer aided drawing/illustration and model making will be included alongside marketing related aspects such as user polls, target group definitions, mood-boarding as well practice in presentation and communications skills.

Examination details

Grading scale: TH - (U,3,4,5) - (Fail, Three, Four, Five)
Assessment: The assessment is based on project documentation and an oral presentation. If necessary a written self-evaluation of the project.

The examiner, in consultation with Disability Support Services, may deviate from the regular form of examination in order to provide a permanently disabled student with a form of examination equivalent to that of a student without a disability.

Admission

The number of participants is limited to: No
The course overlaps following course/s: IDEA40

Reading list

Contact and other information

Course coordinator: Professor Claus-Christian Eckhardt, Claus.Eckhardt@design.lth.se
Course coordinator: Universitetslektor Elin Olander, Elin.Olander@design.lth.se
Course homepage: http://www.ide.lth.se
Further information: In addition to theoretical lectures, the course is based on exercises under supervision, with the aim to learn about methods. The exercises are completed with oral presentations, analysis and critics - individually or in a group. The finishing project is presented both orally and written form.