MAPD5100 Strategies in Product Communication Emneplan

Stories can be used in many ways, e.g. to generate ideas, increase your understanding of the users, create better understanding within teamwork, explain a service, sell an idea or to brand products. In the development of a product or a service, you have to work almost like a film director to build up a product story to which users can relate. In this module you will develop your use of communication strategies with emphasis on conscious use of storytelling in design.

Admission to the Master's programme.

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

Knowledge

The student

• has in-depth knowledge of storytelling as a design research method
• has in-depth knowledge of how storytelling is used in branding
• has advanced knowledge of interview techniques with the aim of getting user insights

Skills

The student

• is capable of using storytelling as a method for research and concept development
• is capable of using concept mapping to develop an idea into a sustainable product concept
• is capable of using dramaturgy in storytelling to sell or explain an idea, product or concept
• is capable of writing a sales pitch
• is capable of consciously develop and use material (product semiotic) and/or visual communication in his/her project

General competence

The student

• understands the need for, and use of collaboration with external partners
• is familiar with developing a project based on insights/stories from external users/resource persons
• Is familiar with implementing communication (storytelling) in projects

The most important teaching and learning methods for this course are individual work, group work, lectures, discussions, tutorials and studio courses.

The world is facing serious environmental challenges caused by the way our economy, industry and societies work. The design of products, services and systems is in many cases the key to a sustainable development. In this module you will learn about some of the environmental challenges the world is facing and how to design solutions that minimizes or eliminates these challenges.

Admission to the Master's programme.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have an overview and understanding of the most important environmental challenges the world is facing today and how design can contribute to solving them. Working on this complex topic, knowledge, skills and general competence on advanced level is needed.

Knowledge

The student

• understands how products can be interconnected in systems and mutually affecting each other
• has a good understanding of how to use information about the environmental impact of the product system, to make informed decisions about how the product system should be designed to minimize this impact
• understands the concept of a circular economy and how design can contribute to achieving this
• has knowledge about how the behaviour of the user may affect the environmental impact caused by the product, and how the design may affect this behaviour
• has knowledge about the global challenges of production and consumption as well as how design may contribute to a sustainable development and fulfilment of the UN sustainability goals.

Skills

The student

• can identify the main environmental impacts caused by a product system throughout its lifecycle.
• can make rough estimates of these impacts
• can create designs and concepts that are simultaneously beneficial for people, planet and profit
• can make informed decisions about appropriate lifetime for a product and how a product should be designed to accommodate for this
• make design decisions to enable for additional lifecycles
• is able to reflect on the consequences of values and strategies chosen by the designer and company

General competence

The student

• understands the importance of considering sustainability aspects in a design process, and can identify and apply appropriate tools or methods to minimize the negative environmental impact

The most important teaching and learning methods for this course are lectures, group work, peer group presentations, excursions and individual project work.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• Group assignments. Weekly assignments first half of the course, new randomized groups each week.
  • These assignments are expected to require one work day per student each week they run.
• Project presentation. Oral presentation of the individual project.
• Excursions
  • The course will include at least two excursions