Course syllabus

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TRA240 Prototyping - with a frugal approach

lp4 VT25 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Tracks

Tracks management
Kristina Henricson Briggs, Director Tracks, kristina.henricson.briggs@chalmers.se
Mikael Enelund, Scientific lead Tracks, mikael.enelund@chalmers.se
Ingemar Josefsson, Education administrator, ingjose@chalmers.se

 

Contact details course

Examiner: Catarina Östlund, industrial designer, catarina.ostlund@chalmers.se

Workshop team: Peter Bäckgren, Pelle Evensen, Henrik Hörlin, Ida Udd and Catarina Östlund

Studio team: Magnus Axelsson, Hugo Landgren and Sofia Toivonen

Guest teachers:

Oskar Lillo, designer, HAY, Copenhagen, oskar.lillo@gmail.com

Helena Hansson, industrial designer, School of Design and Crafts (HDK/GU), helena.hansson@hdk.gu.se,

 

Course purpose

Prototyping - with a frugal approach is a project-based course in which physical prototyping is practiced as a common ground for starting a collaborative design process with a frugal approach (frugal is roughly explained as to do more with less). The course is structured around three workshops and two presentation/communication exercises. The workshops are guided by the same design object (a pre-defined everyday object) but deal with different types of material. The first one is textile or materials with similar characteristics, the second one is metal and the last one adds the component of 3D-printed parts. The prototyping workshops will be performed in appointed labs/workshops in the Fuse area.

The course is emphasizing on the design process (collaborative) and the development and exploration of ideas during sequences of physical prototyping. Frugal design principles serves as an inspiration for the design as well as an perspective in the discussions of choices, evaluation of prototypes and possible ways forward. 

Participating in this course will serve as a source for inspiration, as well as an opportunity to learn and experience alternative, hands-on ways to develop ideas and designs.

This year's project theme is something to carry needed objects in. 

 

Schedule

How to read the schedule? Blue-coloured are mandatory full class activities, grey colour are supervision (sign up for one time slot) and white-coloured is time you plan for within the groups or individually. This time could also include mandatory activities but of a more flexible character. 

 Introduction
24/3 Enroll Fuse Canvas page and answer the satefy quiz: https://chalmers.instructure.com/enroll/8AGEM6 and introduce yourself here

25/3

13.15 - 17.00 Course Introduction, tour workshops, practicalities, signing up for workshop time and collaboration exercise, SB3-S37

18.00 (at latest) Submission of Collaboration exercise
26/3 Workshop time (for signing up see Calendar)/Reading time
27/3 Workshop time/Reading time
28/3 Reading time
 Workshop
31/3 Workshop time/Reading time
1/4 Workshop time/Reading time
2/4 Workshop time/Reading time
3/4 Workshop time/Reading time
4/4 Reading time
 Design Project - start

7/4

Workshop time in the morning

16.00-17.00 Lecture Oskar Lillo (online) 
8/4 Workshop time

9/4 

9-9.45 Introduction to design project, Catarina Östlund, SB3-L113

10-10.45 Lecture Helena Hansson, SB3-L113

11-11.45 Film and audio inspiration, Magnus Axelsson, SB3-L113
10/4 Team work design project
11/4 Team work design project
 
 Design project - Surdey and ideas
14/4 Team work design project
15/4 Team work design project
16/4 Team work design project
17/4 Team work design project
18/4: Holiday
 
 Design project - Choice of main idea (formulation, sketches/models and decisions)
21/4 Holiday
22/4 Team work design project
23/4 Submission of sketch material (each team)
24/4 9.00-11.45 Introduction to video and audio production, Magnus Axelsson and Sofia Toivonen, SB3-S37
25/4 14.00-17.00 Project Supervision - Main idea, Oskar Lillo (online), see Calendar for time slots
 Design project - Developing the idea (sketches/models)  and planning for workshop time
28/4 Team work design project and first idea of video- and audio presentation. Hand-in of plan for time in workshops
29/4 Team work design project and first idea of video- and audio presentation 
30/4 Team work design project and first idea of video- and audio presentation
1/5 Holiday
2/5 14.00-17.00 Supervision - Development of idea, Oskar Lillo, (online), see Calendar for time slots
 
 Design project - development of idea and prototype (in workshops)
5/5 Prototyping in workshops
6/5

13:15-16:00 Studio supervision (video/audio) in Fuse studios, book a time slot for your group in the course calendar.

Note: Make sure to bring a first draft (document/sketch/etc.) of what you plan to achieve for the "Presentation - vision" and the "Presentation - sound". During the supervision we will discuss your drafts. 
7/5

09:00-15:00 Studio supervision (video/audio) in Fuse studios, book a time slot for your group in the course calendar.

Note: Make sure to bring a first draft (document/sketch/etc.) of what you plan to achieve for the "Presentation - vision" and the "Presentation - sound". During the supervision we will discuss your drafts. 
8/5 Prototyping in workshops/studios
9/5 14.00-17.00 Supervision - Idea and prototype, Oskar Lillo (online)
 Design project - prototyping  (in workshops)
12/5 Prototyping in workshops/studios
13/5 Prototyping in workshops/studios
14/5 Prototyping in workshops/studios
15/5

Prototyping in workshops/studios  

In the afternoon: Opening of the exhibition of projects in the course Machine learning and AI through artistic innovation. Go and visit!
16/5 13.15-16.00 Project supervision in workshops, voluntary 
 
 Design project - prototyping  (in workshops)
19/5 Prototyping in workshops/studios
20/5 Prototyping in workshops/studios
21/5 Prototyping in workshops/studios
22/5 Prototyping in workshops/studios
23/5 Prototyping in workshops/studios
 
 Design project - presentation
26/5 Winding up project and preparing for presentation
27/5 Winding up project and preparing for presentation
28/5 9:00-14.00 Presentation
29/5 Holiday
30/5 Submission of Design Project, Sound and Vision
 Design project - compilation and hand-in
2/6 Reflect
3/6 Reflect
4/6 Reflect
5/6 Submission of Reflect
6/6 Holiday

 

TimeEdit

Mandatory Course literature

On Frugal design (recommended to read during the first two weeks) :

On Design, prototyping and creativity (recommended to read in connection to the start of the design project or earlier) :

 

Course Design and Examination

The course is project based, practical and structured around three workshops and two studio assignments, specifically textile, metal and 3D-printing, sound and video. The project- and presentation work is conducted in teams and in addition to that there are two individual assignments, Literature and Reflect. 

The course is examined through:

  • active participation in the workshops, project work and the studio assignments
  • documentation and compilation of material describing the design prototype and process (submission Design project)
  • studio assignments, Sound and Vision
  • individual assignments, Literature and Reflect

 

When is it mandatory to attend in person?

  • The blue-coloured full class activities in the schedule
  • Participation in metal-, textile- and rapid prototyping workshop (one time-slot for each workshop)
  • Participation in at least two project supervisions by Oskar Lillo (team)
  • Participation in studio (video/audio) supervision (team)

In case of absence from mandatory activities, a completion assignment or plan has to be discussed with the examiner.

 

Changes made since the last occasion

The first exercises in the different workshops are less spread out over time, to have more time left for the design project and prototyping within the teams. The literature selection is updated to give a better variety of perspectives. This variety  is also used in the new literature assignment and the final reflection. The final individual reflection is expanded and in addition to the general reflections on the project process it also include an evaluation of the project proposal as well as the team collaboration. 

 

Learning objectives and syllabus

Valid for all Tracks courses:

  • critically and creatively identify and/or formulate advanced architectural or engineering problems
  • master problems with open solutions spaces which includes to be able to handle uncertainties and limited information.
  • lead and participate in the development of new products, processes and systems using a holistic approach by following a design process and/or a systematic development process.
  • work in multidisciplinary teams and collaborate in teams with different compositions
  • show insights about cultural differences and to be able to work sensitively with them.
  • show insights about and deal with the impact of architecture and/or engineering solutions in a global, economic, environment and societal context.
  • identify ethical aspects and discuss and judge their consequences in relation to the specific problem
  • orally and in writing explain and discuss information, problems, methods, design/development processes and solutions
  • fulfill project specific learning outcomes
Course specific:
  • describe the concept of frugal design/engineering, the context and its different meanings and applications
  • reflect on and explain the concept of frugal design/engineering in relation to ones individual area of profession, and through the collaborative course-approach provide for an extended view on possible professional areas and collaborations
  • critically identify problem areas adapting to frugal solution
  • in collaboration with team members and stakeholders choose and formulate a meaningful project with an identified and framed task/problem
  • in group and individually, manage an ideation and prototyping process with the base in frugal principles
  • in group, based on ideation and prototyping, create reasonable solutions for the identified task/problem
  • present solutions and practice an open learning approach in the arguing, critique, and overall discussion around the solutions, and in dialogue with all involved
  • make connections between the different parts and activities in the course, especially between the theoretical and practical parts
  • show insights about the individual as well as the group process, through documentation and written reflections

Link to the Study plan

Grading criteria:

  • Participation in mandatory activities and in the team work
  • Managing the formulation of the design task, ideation and prototyping process and the presentation of the result
  • Describe and show gained insights from the literature 
  • Show insights about the process, team work and frugal characteristics when evaluating and reflecting on the result

Grade 3 – on a basic level, showing understanding of the prototyping/design process/literature

Grade 4 – on a more elaborated level, showing ability to reflect upon the process, results and literature

Grade 5 – as grade 4 and with the addition of showing ability to connect the process and results to literature, the group process and knowledge and other relevant references

The final grade reflects an assessment of the fulfilment of the course activities as a whole.

Course summary:

Date Details Due