BAPD1000 Design office - the designer role Course description

The course promotes knowledge about design as a professional subject. It comprises two periods, where the first period of about two weeks is a preliminary course focusing on different methods or knowledge related to the profession. The second period lasting the remaining four weeks is a collaboration between the bachelor students on all three years of the programme. The students will be divided into groups across classes. In this period, students will practise the theory/subject matter they have learnt from the first period, where the groups work with an external client and/or on external issues.

Admission to the programme.

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 familiar with:

• the designer’s role in society and how design knowledge can contribute to different types of problem solving
• the different phases of a design project
• project planning as a basis for realising a design assignment
• problem formulation as a management tool
• different methods of increasing creativity
• basic methods of team work and good group dynamics

Skills

The student:

• is aware of his/her own and other people’s influence in group work
• knows basic terminology relating to design/the role of designers
• knows different methods of creative processes
• knows different techniques for making 2D and 3D sketches

Competence

The student:

• is familiar with relevant ethical issues such as privacy and copyright relating to the discipline and the profession and is aware of professional attitudes in the design field
• is capable of exchanging points of view and experience with others in the field and in this way contribute to developing good practice
• is capable of reflecting on his/her own development in the learning process and adjusting it
• is capable of working in a team on a joint topic towards a common goal

The work methods used in the different groups/design assignments will vary. In general, there will be:

• lectures
• team work with discussions on topics such as:
  • needs, problems
  • principle solutions (concepts) and ideas
  • choice of solution
  • presentation of solution
• work in 2D and 3D media
• physical modelling in suitable materials
• workshops

• papers and presentations

The following coursework is compulsory and must be approved in order to pass the exam:

• a minimum of 80% attendance in the Design Office project. The attendance requirement applies from when the students start to work in groups on the assignments, i.e. the last four weeks of the course (period 2).
• oral presentation in groups where all group members contribute (period 1)
• reflection notes

If the attendance requirement is not met, the students must complete an additional written assignment. This assignment must deal with and highlight:

• the design assignment
• the designer’s role

The additional assignment must be illustrated/visualised and have a minimum scope of 20 A4 pages.

Written assignment in groups based on a given topic. Group size: 3-12 students. Scope: min. 10 A4 pages.

The exam result can be appealed.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Pass/fail.

Two internal examiners. External examiners are used regularly.