Course syllabus spring 2022
Course syllabus spring 2022
Title
Interaction Design in Society
Swedish title
Interaktionsdesign i samhället
Course code
KD418A
Credits
15 credits
Grading scale
UG / Fail (U) or Pass (G)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2021-09-15
Syllabus valid from
2022-01-17
Entry requirements
At least 45 credits in the main field of Interaction Design.
Level
Basic level
No main field.
Progression level
G1F
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course can be included in the degree requirements for a bachelor's degree in interaction design.
Course objectives
The course takes Service Design as its point of departure and seeks to develop students’ capabilities and criticality when it comes to interaction design at large, including:
- Methodology
- Reflecting on the ethical implications of interaction design as embedded in societies
- Engaging with stakeholders
Course contents
In this course, we will critically reflect on our position and behaviour as interaction designers in and across diverse communities. We will plan, adapt, perform, and critically examine methodologies for engaging with others in challenging situations.
The scope includes design methodology as well as the designed artifacts themselves, drawing on de-colonising and feminist approaches. Practically, a design project with external stakeholders serves as a foundation for learning activities.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students will be able to:
- Analyse how interactive artifacts are shaped by society (and vice versa), using appropriate theory.
- Plan a design project for/with an external stakeholder, justifying key aspects with respect to the design situation.
- Perform, adapt and critically evaluate the methodology of a design project.
- Communicate the outcomes of a design project to an external stakeholder.
- Critically examine the role and position of the designer, drawing upon the experience of the project and course literature.
Learning activities
Seminars, reflective journaling, readings, peer-review, oral presentation and design work
Assessment
- Annotated portfolio (LO 1; HP 3; individual)
- Methodology plan (LO 2; HP 1; group)
- Project report (LO 3; HP 5; individual)
- Presentation of project outcomes (LO 4; HP 2; group)
- Argumentative essay (LO 5; HP 4; individual)
Special circumstances apply to courses with production assignments as the assessment is dependent on the student participating in specific projects during given time periods. Opportunity for re-examination is given in accordance with applicable rights, but the specific task may be adapted as it cannot be performed in the same way as in the ordinary examination.
Course literature
Escobar, A. (2018). Designs for the pluriverse: Radical interdependence, autonomy, and the making of worlds. Duke University Press.
- Chapter 1: Out of the Studio and into the Flow of Socionatural Life
- Chapter 2: Elements for a Cultural Studies of Design
Papanek, V. (2005). Design for the real world. Human Ecology and Social Change (2nd edition) New York: Pantheorn Books.
Sengers, P., Boehner, K., David, S., & Kaye, J. J. (2005, August). 'Reflective design'. In: Proceedings of the 4th decennial conference on Critical computing: between sense and sensibility. (pp. 49-58). ACM Press.
Additional literature, not exceeding 100 pages, will be introduced according to contemporary research and the project.
Course evaluation
The university provides all students who are participating in, or have completed, a course to express their experiences and views on the course through a course evaluation which is organized at the end of the course. The university will collate the course evaluations and provide information about their results and any actions prompted by them. The results shall be made available to the students. (HF 1:14).
Interim rules
When a course is no longer given, or the contents have been radically changed, the student has the right to re-take the examination, which will be given twice during a one year period, according to the syllabus which was valid at the time of registration.
Additional information
This is an English version of a Swedish syllabus.