| CODE | TET2015 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Design Science: Theory, Processes and Methods | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Technology and Entrepreneurship Education | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit presents both metacognitive and methodological approaches about designerly thinking and ways of knowing. In this sense the study-unit presents design as a systematic scientific process which is undertaken to identify real-world problems and transform knowledge about the problem into a solution. By assuming this approach the study-unit provides fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to undertake the process of design in a systematic manner supported by theory, methods and techniques. During this study-unit the student will also learn how consequences stem from decisions made during the design process. In this sense, the learner will be able to identify and foresee these consequences. The learner is also exposed to contemporary design practices such as design ethnography and human-centred design as well as a range of design methods and techniques which can be exploited to support the designer in the act of designing. Study-Unit Aims: - To define the design process and its constituent stages; - To provide students with the scientific foundation and skills necessary to undertake the process of design; - To develop knowledge about the various tools and methods used throughout the design process; - To provide students the opportunity to systematically transform an identified problem into a design solution. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Define "design" and the act of "designing"; - Explain different occurrences of design and features of each for example: design processes in technology, design processes in engineering, design processes in the arts; - Discuss how design ability can be nurtured; - Compile a design brief in terms of a number of requirements from diverse dimensions that include functional, aesthetic, economic, technical, ethical, social and product life cycle considerations.; - Provide evidence of critical reflection throughout the development and manufacture of a technological product; - Demonstrate an understanding of the criteria used to judge the quality of evolving design solutions; - Demonstrate the ability to transform an identified problem into a product using a variety of systematic design methods including: QFD, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, Concept Scoring, and SCAMPER, and Design for X methods; - Develop a product design solution to a given problem by adopting a design process model; - Justify product design decisions related to material, form, structure and dimensions by considering the impact of these decisions on multiple product life-cycle perspectives. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Employ and externalize designerly thinking in order to identify user requirements and develop a product design solution; - Use creative thinking strategies and design methods to generate a wide range of ideas and product concepts. Such methods include: six thinking hats, mind maps, mood boards, concept scoring, QFD, DfX and FMEA; - Generate, develop, model and communicate design concepts in a range of ways e.g. sketches, 3D models, digital images, photographs, prototypes etc.; - Apply design methods in order to create high quality technical products which are functional, elicit desirable emotions from users and are sustainable. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - NORMAN, D. A. 2004. Emotional Design, New York, Basic Books. - HUBKA, V., & EDER, W. E. (1996). Design Science. Springer London. - TJALVE, E. (1979). A Short Course in Industrial Design. Newnes-Butterworths. - ULRICH, K. T., & EPPINGER, S. D. (2012). Product Design and Development (5th ed). McGraw-Hill/Irwin - ÅNNA, E., & GUNNAR, E. (1999). Controlling Design Variants: Modular Product Platforms. Society of Manufacturing Engineers. - JOHANNESSON, P. & PERJONS, E. (2014). An Introduction to Design Science. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10632-8 Journal websites and Journal papers: - IDEO.ORG. 2013. DesignKit [Online]. San Francisco. Available: http://www.designkit.org/methods [Accessed 26th January 2016]. - Design Studies: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Design Research [Online]. Available: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/design-studies/ [Accessed 14th July 2015]. - International Journal of Design [Online]. Available: http://index.ijdesign.org/ [Accessed 14th July 2015]. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study & Tutorial | ||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Lawrence Farrugia Emanuel Mizzi Sarah Pule |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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