INTERACTION DESIGN THEORY SEMINAR 5th semester
Fall 2022
Lecturer:
Dr Joëlle Bitton, joelle.bitton@zhdk.ch
Office hours by appointment
Class sessions take place Mondays from 15.00-17.00. See calendar for details.
OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES
"Sweet Dreams are Made of This" proposes to dive into the very essence of interaction design agency, ahead of the thesis semester. How does a design project emerges from a particular interest? Should it have an impact? And at what scale? Through a variety of references, we'll address notions of dreams, contribution, position and ownership, especially as they relate to contemporary societal questions. We usually consider that a novel contribution to knowledge has to be read about, dreamed about in a visionary sense, used and related to, through hands on testing, iterations and prototyping at various stages, explored orally and visually, and discussed by peers and tutors. The course is structured around materials discussions showcasing social engagement, activism and aesthetic movements, various assignments such as fictional dream-like scenarios and practical workshop formats.
This course is also a guided exercise in your autonomy to look for relevant references and to integrate them as part of your research endeavour. You should start early with topics of interest for your diploma work, even it is expected that they might evolve or even change completely. In that sense, even if your topic changes, the questions & methods that will be addressed in this class will be valid throughout your diploma work. Different than previous theory classes, with mostly discussions based on readings, this class is a continuous assignment-based exploration of your research engagement. It is required that you follow through and ride the wave.
COURSE OUTLINE
12 sessions structured around the notions of engagement, positioning, research and ownership.
EXPECTATIONS AND GRADING
Grades will be based on the oral and written presentations and on class participation. Contributing to constructive group feedback is an essential aspect of class participation. Regular attendance is required. Two or more unexcused absences will affect the final grade. Arriving late on more than one occasion will also affect the grade.
Sessions in-class will not be available on Zoom.
Participation in Zoom sessions implies dedicated attention to the class (ie. no multi-tasking with travelling at the same time on train, car, etc).
Class participation 10%
Short Disposition 30%
Literature Review / Related Work mapping 40%
Research exercises 20%
Background Research (grade and % is part of diploma work)
Any assignment that remains unfulfilled receives a failing grade.
ASSIGNMENTS
In-class assignments - deliver on the server
Mid-semester assignments (14.11.22)
Statement of Intent for the BA thesis.
Literature Review
Related Work Visualisation with annotations
Final assignment (09.12.22)
Background research chapter
COURSE MATERIALS
Readings are made available in the shared IAD server
CALENDAR
Session 01 – 26.09.2022 – What is the Action? - 4.K16
This session is structured in three parts.
A quick look at the syllabus & assignments.
An initial discussion with students based on reflections from the last two years of studies and how they consider what a contribution is, as they head towards their thesis semester (initial writing exercise).
A second discussion based on watching excepts from two movies recalling the legacy of the organisation Act Up :
Assignments for the following week:
- Do a short observation of a situation that you want to tackle, and if applicable meet and interview the people involved. Present the results in a short essay with visuals (max. 1-2 pages). Share on the server by the following Monday 9.00.
- Find a manifesto or position in art, craft, technology or science that dates before 1899 and in class next week, read a paragraph and explain what makes it relevant for our time. Share a copy of the manifesto on the server by the following Monday 9.00.
Session 02 – 03.10.2022 – In Formation - 4.K16
We'll first look at the material you found (observation & manifesto),
Then through a look at the prefix "inter" that poses the condition for "interaction", we address current notions of intersectionality and queer.
We will travel through a series of cultural and political protests in order to frame a discussion on the possible roles and failings of the design discipline in light of social engagement.
Possible materials presented: Anti-Apartheid activism in South Africa, Aaron Swartz, drag culture, representation in pop culture.
What responsibilities do you have?
In a class exercise, you will write about your own positioning.
Assignments for the following week:
- Describe topic choice in 2 structured paragraph with initial research questions
- Plan tandem choice
- Readings
Session 03 – 10.10.2022 – Making Sense (or How to validate assumptions through research questions) - 4.K16
Present Topic choice & tandem.
In an in-class exercise, in groups of 2 or 3 - discuss your research interest and get feedback about your research questions (what are your assumptions, the possible stereotypes&clichés, what could be the challenges, the opportunities, what angle would be most compelling to address, etc). Identify which research method can help your check your assumptions, based on the methods you encountered in your studios and theory classes and invent a new research method.
Each group will present.
We'll review together the final assignment guidelines and the diploma thesis structure.
Readings:
Be familiar with some research terminology:
- Mackenzie, N.,Knipe, S. 2006. "Research Dilemmas: Paradigms, methods and methodology". Issues in Education Research, 16 (2), 193 – 205.
In brief, qualitative research:
- 'An Introduction to Qualitative Research' prepared by Christina Hughes, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick.
Look at examples of research & design in HCI:
- Zimmermann J., Forlizzi J. 2014. "Research Through Design in HCI" in J.S. Olson and W.A. Kellogg (eds.), Ways of Knowing in HCI, Springer Science+Business Media, New York.
Learning by doing:
- Tin, Mikkel B. 2013. "Manifesto: Making and the Sense it makes". In Studies in Material Thinking. Vol.9 Inside Making.
Assignment in advance for the free flow seminar:
Bring 2 books that inspire you for your topic in a large or detailed scope.
+ 1 serendipitous book, Go to the library - either ZHdK or a library of your choice. Browse the aisles -except the design section - without looking for something in particular. Open books that attract you from title, cover, look...
Bring a thesis from past BA students (available at ZHdK library or IAD office or server).
Bring those 4 items with you to the free flow retreat retreat and present them.
Assignment for 14.11.2022: Develop your research interest into a statement of intent (see questions) and compile a detailed literature review of 8 essays (no web articles or blog posts) that help you advance your research and unpack your topic. The goal is to narrow down your topic from a big overview to 2-3 possible angles - make one paragraph introduction to your literature review. Additionally, find 10 related projects, define the criteria from them that matter and make a visualisation where you situate your own interest. This should keep being developed until the final assignment which is an extension and update of this work. Share on the server.
Session 04 to 07 – 20-21.10.2022 – Free Flow Retreat - see location in program
Detailed program is indicated in the Free Flow program. This is a 2-day deep dive into your research interests and ways to let them flow, in conversation with mentors.
Session 08 – 14.11.22 – Joyful Research
Guest Intervention: Sadhna Jain, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL.
Assignment for the following week:
- Read your peers statements of intent and think of at least 1 question or suggestion or remark to share with your peer.
- Browse Readings
Session 09 – 21.11.22 – Collective feedback
Discussion of statements and feedback to your peers.
Readings:
This class' readings are 3 examples of conducting, structuring and presenting creative research.
Last week, we approached elements of joyful research and you should have gained a large collection of ideas and examples. How do you relate to them?
How will you investigate your research questions in a creative and playful way?
Gaver, W., Dunne A, Pacenti E. 1999. "The Presence Project", in RCA, Journal Interactions, Volume 6, Issue 1, Jan./Feb. 1999.
Jarvis, N., Cameron, D., Boucher, A. 2012. Attention To Detail: Annotations of a design process. pp. 11-20.
Gaver, W. 2011. "Making spaces: How design workbooks work" in Proceedings of CHI 2011, Vancouver.
Assignment for the following week:
- Review past BA thesis students
- Browse Readings
Session 10 – 28.11.2022 – Own it
Going back to the theme of responsibility, we've discussed in past classes the various roles of a designer and entanglements with modes of production and consumption.
Look for instance at the commodity of cotton and its commerce, can your dream be transformed into a nightmare?
In a parallel note, a thesis work has to stand the grounds of an academic endeavour while bringing a unique contribution.
What is truly unique about your contribution?
Exercise-in-class: list where your thesis work is not changing anything.
Exercise-in-class: looking at former IAD students' BA thesis
Readings (Browse through):
Eco, U. 2015. How to Write a Thesis. MIT Press. 1st ed. 1977.
Koskinen, I., Zimmerman, J., Binder, T., Redström, J., & Wensveen, S. 2011. Design research through practice: From lab, field, and showroom. San Francisco, CA: Morgan Kaufmann.
Assignment for the following week:
- Dream.
Session 11 – 05.12.2022 – How far?
Dream it bigger and create an ongoing dialog between what is and what might be. Which aspects could be extended? How could you add something? Make it smaller: What could you leave out? Which aspects could be reduced? How far can you go? What is your ambition? What should you be aware of in terms of responsibility? Do you want the largest audience? Do you want media coverage? Who is your audience?
During class, share your ultimate dream.
How far can you go: watch the Importance of Self-Delusion.
How far do you expect the research to go?
*** 12.12.22 - 10.00AM - Final Assignment: deadline - NO extension!***
Session 12 – 12.12.2021 – Re-Positioning
In a loop back to where we started, we'll end this class with a look at impact and contribution, particularly in relation to current societal matters.
How will your topic has shaped itself in the past few months? See where you started and where you're going.
In that political realm of positioning, we'll have a look at the "Center for Political Beauty" https://www.politicalbeauty.de, and how this center develops innovative forms of political activism to provoke, rise awareness and to preserve humanitarianism.