BAPD1111 Design History and Design Theory Course description

The module will deepen Norwegian and international design history from the year approx. 1850 to the present day. Theoretical perspectives on design and scientific theory are also central subject areas within the subject. A basic understanding of history on a societal level, but also locally and on a personal level, is an important part of learning. The student will receive practical teaching in the writing process, academic writing and documentation. The subject will also provide a basic introduction to communication and dissemination aspects related to the role of designer

The student must have passed the first year of master's courses that are required for their specific degree.

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

• has knowledge about how design is important for social development and vice versa, that social development affects design - and that this is expressed differently historically and today.
• knows that the links between design and social development are important on both a societal, local and personal level.

Skills

The student

• can survey and critically reflect on design's role in sustainable social development, based on own understanding.
• masters written and oral discussion, use of references and argumentation related to the field of study.
• can reflect critically on forms of communication in text, flat and spatial contexts and can use basic terminology related to the communication of design.

Competence

The student is capable of

• can assess their own role in professional contexts and with different perspectives, for example related to sustainability, inclusion or social benefit.
• can exchange views and experiences with others with a background in the subject area and through this contribute to the development of good practice.
• can reflect on their own development in the learning process and adjust this under guidance.
• can reflect on different forms of communication and dissemination of own and others' designs.
• is aware of their own professional role and understands it in relation to both a contemporary and a historical social context.
• Is aware of the importance of communication of own and others' design projects.
• is aware of historical changes in attitudes to sustainability, linked to design and consumption.

The department announces positions as student research assistant or in student project groups. Students that apply within the due date and meet the requirements will compete for the positions based on application. The course coordinator and student will sign a work contract defining their mutual expectations about input and output. The work should amount to the equivalent of 6 weeks of full time studies. An academic staff member commits to supervise the student before and after this period, as we expect a paper, an article, a policy-brief or other relevant scientific output from the participation

The student will choose about 500 pages that are thematically, methodologically and scientifically relevant for the scientific production. The supervising academic staff member will approve the list two weeks prior to work report deadline, and sends the approved list to the course coordinator for registration.

A relevant scientific outcome may be:

• a paper produced as a working paper for the project
• a paper, poster, film or exhibit for presentation in a scientific conference
• an independent or co-authored publication from the project
• a presentation of results for stakeholders
• an integrated part of a larger publication from the project. In this case, the student and the supervisor must indicate which part of the publication the student is responsible for.
• a policy-brief, summarizing the main findings as well as suggesting the implications and recommendations of these findings
• or other output approved by the course coordinator and agreed upon in the contract

In addition to the scientific output from the project participation, each student will deliver an individual report of between 800-1200 words from the research training. This report should contain a critical reflection of the learning process, uses of method or implication of the produced knowledge. The deadline for such reports are set towards the end of the term

Candidates who have not fulfilled the work agreed to in the initial contract, will have failed the course.

All referenced material allowed.

Pass - Fail

The student's work will be evaluated by the course coordinator and training supervisor.

The main purpose of this module is for the student to gain research experience through pedagogical interaction with a professional researcher or faculty. As an individual research assistant, the student will perform a defined and limited research task under supervision. Equally, a group of students can perform a defined and limited research task in collaboration and deliver a joint research outcome, while submitting individual reports (see work requirements below).

Through empirical studies and theoretical reflection, the students gain insight and skills, enabling them to undertake research tasks of a scientific standard.

BAPD1110 Designhistorie og designteori