52,5 credits within the main field of studies of which all 30 credits from the course Produktdesign: Designmetodik, or

60 credits within the field of Design

This course is a part of the B.A. programme Product Design’s second year

Material Driven Design (MDD) is a creative and explorative design method that facilitate design processes in which materials are the main driver. By working with an explorative approach, the student understands the material in-depth e.g. experiential qualities, technical properties and the material’s purpose within a situational whole. In the course, the MDD-method will be used for working with semi-developed or exploratory materials, designing new materials from e.g. waste streams or renewable and organic raw materials. During the course, the student is expected to develop an in-depth understanding of technical properties and experiential qualities of materials as well as manufacturing techniques, from a design perspective. The student is expected to demonstrate the ability to present a well-argued selection of material and manufacturing techniques based on the underlying reasons for the users’ material experiences. The course is based on a group project with materials as the point of departure in the design process.

Material Driven Design: theory, method and project

After completing the course students will have demonstrated the ability to:

1. conduct a line of reasoning about the relevance of a material’s sensorial qualities, technical properties and manufacturing techniques, and thereby show the ability to reflect on the complexity of material exploration and selection processes in design projects
2. explain how material properties are affected by different manufacturing methods
3. explore and analyse the sensorial characteristics of a material through user studies
4. explore and analyse technical properties of a material by performing a tinkering process with the material
5. qualify a material for what it is and for what it does; what it expresses to us, what it elicits from us, and what it makes us do, and to perform a critical reflection on the materials expected environmental effects

Instruction consists of lectures, a workshop, guided tinkering sessions, design criticism, supervision and self-study. It is considered important that the student takes an active part in teacher-directed learning and actively contributes to student lead course activities. In the course, the student practices to reflect on one’s own process i.e. reflective practice.

Material driven design: Theory and method (4,5 hp). Assessed by design documentation in groups, and active participation in critique sessions (expected learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3)

Material driven design: Project (3hp). Assessed by design documentation in groups, active participation in critique sessions, and active participation in a final presentation (expected learning outcomes 4 and 5).

• Karana, E. (2013). Materials Experience: Contemporary Issues In Materials and Product Design, Butterworth Heinemann, ISBN: 9780080993591
• Karana, E., Barati, B., Rognol, V. i & van der Laan, A. (2015). Material driven design (MDD): A method to design for material experiences, International Journal of Design, 9, 2, 35-54
• Kääriäinen, P., Tervinen, L., Vuorinen, T., & Riutta, N. (2020). The CHEMARTS cookbook, Aalto University publication series CROSSOVER, 1/2020, ISBN: 978-952-60-8803-7 (electronic), ISBN 978-952-60-8802-0 (printed)

Other recommended literature:

• Ashby, M., & Johnson, K. (2009). Materials and Design, Butterworth Heinemann, ISBN: 9781856174978
• Thompson, R. (2007). Manufacturing Processes for Design Professionals, Thames & Hudson Ltd, ISBN: 9780500513750
• Thompson, R. & Thompson, M. (2014). Manufacturing Processes for Textile and Fashion Design Professionals, Thames & Hudson Ltd, ISBN 9780500517413
• Solanki, S. (2018). Why materials matter: responsible design for a better world, Prestel Publishing
• Myers, W. (2012). Bio design, Nature, Science, Creativity, Thames & Hudson Ltd

Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students. (HF 1:14)

If a course is no longer offered, or has undergone significant changes, the students must be offered two opportunities for re-examination based on the syllabus that applied at the time of registration, for a period of one year after the changes have been implemented.

Language of instruction: English

If a student has a Learning support decision, the examiner has the right to provide the student with an adapted test, or to allow the student to take the exam in a different format.

This is the English version of a Swedish syllabus.