Course syllabus for Design and communication, advanced course

Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameDesign och kommunikation, fortsättningskurs
  • CodeLMU615
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTIDSL
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyIndustrial Design Engineering
  • DepartmentINDUSTRIAL AND MATERIALS SCIENCE
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 66111
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0104 Written and oral assignments 7.5 c
Grading: TH		7.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

The courses LMU631 Designintroduction and LMU610 Design and communication, or equivalent knowledge.

Aim

To further develop the descriptive qualities of sketching techniques and to give the students improved means of communicating through illustrations. The course aims at connecting the argumentative elements in sketches and text in order to strengthen the students¿ communicative abilities as well as critical thinking regarding design choices. The course also provides training in sketching, modeling, and writing a report in English.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • analyze different design choices by retrieving information and providing arguments for these by demonstrating the interconnected relationship between sketches, models and text.
  • demonstrate deeper understanding of sketching techniques and relationships between sketches and models.
  • make strategic communicative choices and to present a design project by using sketches, models, and text written in English.
  • sketch and model for the purpose of studying shapes and to create individual shapes according to a given project.
  • assess the result of one's own work against set criteria.

Content

The course consists of three main components: sketching techniques, graphic communication and report writing in English. These parts are integrated elements that are assessed through an individual design project. The integrated project form is central for the methodology of the course, and the students work to design a concept based on a clear situation analysis, sketches, models, and a final argumentative essay in English. The design concepts will also be presented at a presentation seminar.

The following main areas are part of the course:
  • Sketching techniques for complex shapes.
  • Sketching techniques, using "markers" and "dry pastel".
  • Modelling (with special focus on the relationship between sketch and model).
  • Report writing in English (with special focus on argumentative writing).
  • Referencing (choice of sources and reference systems).

Organisation

The course is organized around lectures and exercises in sketching techniques and communication in English, as well as a major individual design project. The project is presented through a report/essay and at a seminar at the end of the course.

The sketching elements provide a progression from previous courses, and new methods such as "markers" will be introduced. This also includes views and perspectives, and digital image processing. Furthermore, the course also includes working with cardboard and foam models, with a special focus on studying forms, shapes and the correlation between sketches and models.

In order to pass the course, a minimum attendance of 80% (sketching workshops) is required as well as a complete report (including sketches and models) and a presentation at the seminar.

A prevailing theme across the course is the relationship between communication and design, where choices made in sketches and models must be communicated to an intended audience. Furthermore, the argumentative/rhetorical functions in images and text are linked together in order to strengthen all the steps of the design process - from idea to finished concept.

Communication in terms of speech, image and text is also used as a learning tool throughout the course. Here, the concepts of peer learning and peer response are important constituents of the projects, and all individual projects are organized in larger groups for intellectual stimuli and practical response work.

Literature

Will be posted on the course website.

Examination including compulsory elements

Active participation in exercises as well as oral and written presentations of the individual project are required for assessment. English will be used, both in the project report and at the presentation seminar. The individual project will be assessed holistically, which includes sketches, models, language proficiency, report structure and argumentative rhetoric.

The projects will be assessed based on a number of criteria according the a rubrics model. These criteria and rubrics will be available at course start-up and they will be modified in cooperation with the students. Self-assessment according to the criteria is part of the examination.

The final grade for the course will be given as Fail, 3, 4, 5.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.