Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

The module aims to equip students for tackling problems and uncertainties from a design- and human-driven perspective to build potential for technology-based innovation. This module brings together specific design methods with design processes through reflective practice, exploring application, synthesis, and reflection from a design- and human-driven perspective that prepares the student to not only react effectively too complex changing problems but also to effectively plan and manage the overall process.

The students will be evaluated on their ability to reflect on and improve their use of methods and process. To support this, the students are taught a range of methods and approaches to design- and human-driven innovation based in design theory. For example, core topics will include reflective practice, wicked problems, design rationales and abductive thinking. Furthermore, the students are taught how to apply design- and human-driven methods and actively explore these through processes of problem setting and problem solving.

The module will be workshop-based and human-centred to ensure experiences with the application of design methods. Furthermore, the focus in the workshops will take its offset from the problems identified through the student’s semester projects. This is to ensure cohesion on the semester and provide the students with a solid foundation for acquiring design skills.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

The objective is that the student after the module possesses the necessary knowledge on:

• design processes and design- and human-driven methods
• application, synthesis, and reflection from a design- and human-driven perspective.
• identifying and reflecting upon complex changing problems and uncertainties in design processes.

Skills

The objective is that the student after the module possesses the necessary skills in:

• exploring problem-areas and/or opportunities from a human-driven perspective, using observation, interviews, and other research methods to collect data.
• transforming data into specifications and demands and subsequently use this as basis for problem framing and problem-solving processes.
• being a part of, documenting and reflecting upon processes of design-driven and technology-based innovation.

Competences

The objective is that the student after the module possesses the necessary competences in:

• independently planning and executing a design- and human-driven processes.
• uniting theory and practice to navigate uncertainties through human-centred methods in design processes.
• applying a problembased perspective to  reflect on the process and design rationales within an innovation context.

Type of instruction

For information see § 17.

Exam

Exams