MAPD5210 Visualizing Complexity Course description

The teaching consists of lectures and seminars. See the programme description for further details.

Admission to the Master's programme.

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

Knowledge

The student will attain knowledge within:

• systems theory, systemic design and sustainability
• cybernetics and communication theory
• conversation theory
• systems dynamics and systems analysis
• game dynamics in systems
• methods for data gathering in complex settings (visual interviewing, design probes and play probes, co-design, among others)

Skills

The student is capable of:

• describing complex contexts through systems thinking as basis for design
• creating GIGA-maps
• usages of GIGA-maps as conversation, data gathering, research, and design tools
• utilizing systemic design methods for data gathering, sharing, cooperation, analysis, documentation, creation, and the analysis of the creation (intervention)
• documenting all findings in common visualizations and reducing data into graphs that communicate for example discussions, findings, tendencies, causality, dynamics, emergence i.a.
• creating services and products on the basis of the above mentioned skills

General competence

The student attains advanced competence in systemic design by:

• developing the ability to understand and handle complexity and systems thinking in design processes in groups with stakeholders
• holistic thinking and understanding of design projects in relation to sustainability, environmental and social megatrends, general societal contexts and dynamics, culture, politics, market and technological contexts
• communication and cooperation by visualization, GIGA-mapping, and other types of mapping
• the capability to play a lead and cooperative role in design related projects in public and business contexts
• the ability to implement a chosen specialization as an additional approach or focus within this specific course context

The course is assessed on the basis of an individual written home exam over five days, with a scope of 3,500 words +/- 10 %.

Resit/rescheduled exam:

Resit/rescheduled exam is organised in the same way as the ordinary exam.

Examination support material is permitted.

Letter grades ranging from A to F are used, with A being the highest grade and E the poorest pass grade, and F being a fail grade.

The exam is assessed by one internal and one external examiner.

The course deals with important theories and concepts concerning inequality and power in developing countries, and theoretical analyses of processes that create, change and maintain inequality. Particular emphasis is placed on how power affects distribution through relations of class, gender, ethnicity, race, patron-client relationships and political-economic organisation.

Two internal examiners. External examiners are used regularly.