Course syllabus for Product semiotics

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

Overview

  • Swedish nameProduktsemiotik
  • CodeMPP071
  • Credits6 Credits
  • OwnerTKDES
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyIndustrial Design Engineering
  • ThemeMTS 2 c
  • DepartmentINDUSTRIAL AND MATERIALS SCIENCE
  • GradingUG - Pass, Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 56113
  • Maximum participants45
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0104 Written and oral assignments 6 c
Grading: UG		6 c0 c0 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first 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

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
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

Introduction to industrial design engineering (MPP082), Formlära (MPP121)/Basic design 1 (MPP120) and Computer aided modeling (MPP067), or equivalent.

Aim

The aim of the course is to give basic knowledge about product semiotic theory, and through pracital training and a designproject develop the ability to analyze and design products with focus on communicative criteria of the product.

 

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

  • Apply and account for theories and concepts used in semiotics and product semiotics.
  • Apply a product semiotic approach and methods to analyze, formulate, evaluate and articulate a product's message.
  • Be able to define and determine desirable properties / expressions of products based on a selected user character / persona.
  • Apply product semiotic theory in practical design work and deliberately design a product with the desired message.
  • Choose and apply design tools to design a product's expression.
  • Develop and deepen knowledge in digital modeling and visualization (Alias)
  • Evaluate a product's message, its expression, using semantic differential scales.
  • Describe and reflect orally and in writing on the work process from the user / person to the final product.
  • Motivate and argue for the product's ability to convey the intended message.

Content

Lectures:
  • Product semiotics, product semantic theory and concepts
  • Design tools, idea generation methods
  • Measurement methods, product evaluation
  • Digital modeling and visualization
Design projects are carried out in groups where the following elements are included:
  • Market overview of product range
  • Function analysis / statement
  • Persona, Scenario
  • Persona Artefact Board and Character Analysis
  • Semantic word scale
  • Expression Board and Semantic Analysis sketches
  • Concept sketches, sketch models
  • Measurement methods, valuation
  • Digital Modeling and Visualization (Alias)
  • Project Report
  • Reflection

Organisation

  • Individual literature studies and seminar
  • Project work in group
  • Project supervision and project presentation - compulsory participation
  • Support in digital modelling / visualisation
The scheduled supervisions are mandatory. These are intended to, in part, assess the project work's progression and partly give feedback on work done and suggestions for improvements. Each supervisor approves each part. Presentations and seminars are mandatory.

Literature

Articles and compendium in the field of design and product semiotics will be available on the course wepage.

Examination including compulsory elements

For a passing grade: All parts of the project work and project report must be well executed and submitted at the specified time on the course homepage. The course includes supervisions, presentations and seminars that are mandatory. Each supervisor approves each part. In case of illness, the relevant teacher and examiner are notified, if possible a new time can be booked. In case of failed project work, supplementary extra information and oral questioning are provided

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.