EPN

BAPD2210 Cultural understanding and Communication Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Kulturforståelse og kommunikasjon
Study programme
Bachelorstudium i produktdesign
Weight
20.0 ECTS
Year of study
2020/2021
Curriculum
SPRING 2021
Schedule
Programme description
Course history

Introduction

The course deals with how we understand other cultural groups and how it creates the basis for and influences the design process and the result. Furthermore, the course focuses on the complexity of communication and the communication’s importance for the process, product and dissemination.

Required preliminary courses

Passed first year of the programme or equivalent.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student

  • is capable of seeing the profession in a cultural context and from a contemporary perspective
  • is familiar with key theories, issues, processes, tools and methods in cultural understanding, communication and presentation. This includes relevant theories on semiotics, ethnography, emotional design and sustainable design.

Skills

The student

  • is capable of applying cultural understanding in his/her own work process
  • is capable of planning and carrying out a strategic design process
  • is capable of conducting several iterations in the product development and analysing them
  • masters relevant professional tools, techniques and forms of expression
  • is capable of reflecting on dissemination and presentation and of selecting a suitable means of communication for a group of recipients
  • is capable of using relevant forms of expression in communication
  • is capable of using theory and tools such as ethnography, mapping, semiotics and emotional design in the development of a product
  • is capable of reflecting on sustainability in his/her own design process
  • masters written and oral presentation and argumentation

Competence

The student

  • is capable of using resource persons to promote professional development
  • is capable of reflecting on him/herself and his/her own work in a cultural context and from a social perspective
  • is capable of reflecting on his/her own design practice and adjusting it under supervision
  • is capable of navigating and interacting with an international and multicultural classroom environment
  • can participate in innovative processes involving new and emerging technologies and build skills in anticipating and adapting to technological change
  • masters fundamental English design terms and how to use them in the design process

Content

The course is intended to give the students a general cultural understanding by approaching objects as a form of cultural expression and seeing the project in a cultural context and from a social perspective. The course will give the students knowledge of and experience in analysing the different cultural contexts products are part of and how they form part of their own design process.

The course aims to promote knowledge and make the students aware of the use of communication and cultural understanding in a specific design project. Students will learn to communicate using semantic tools, and through verbal and visual communication. The student will be introduced to the use of communication methods and presentation techniques and learn how to communicate a message to a target group.

The course also includes literature on ethnography, mapping, sustainability, designing presentation material and communication.

The work will result in a product, report and communication material.

Teaching and learning methods

Individual work or in groups of up to three people, lectures, workshops, presentations and discussion, literature studies and research.

Course requirements

The following coursework is compulsory and must be approved before the student can take the exam:

  • Participation in organised workshops
  • Oral presentation of a project using suitable media
  • Reflect on learning in the project

Assessment

Portfolio assessment, individual or in groups of up to three people, subject to the following portfolio requirements in the project report:

  • Scope of the portfolio - one student max 35 pages, group of two students max 40 pages, group of three students max 45 pages. Appendices come in addition.
  • Process documentation in the form of pictures, graphics, text and other media, with argumentation for the development and choices made.
  • Result from the designer project.
  • Grounds for choices and giving an oral presentation (carried out as a coursework requirement).
  • Discussion and analysis of how/what the product the student has designed communicates, and in what way and to whom.

All parts of the portfolio must be passed (grade E or better) in order to pass the exam in the course.

The exam result can be appealed.

Permitted exam materials and equipment

All.

Grading scale

A grading scale from A-F where A is the best grade and F is fail.

Examiners

Two internal examiners. External examiners are used regularly.