Interaction Design WikiDesign, Technology and Society

If/Only: design, technology and society 2020

If/Only: design, technology and society 2020 
INTERACTION DESIGN THEORY SEMINAR 4th semester

Spring 2020

INSTRUCTORS

Verena Ziegler, verena.ziegler@zhdk.ch 

Dr Joëlle Bitton, joelle.bitton@zhdk.ch 

Stefano Vannotti, stefano.vannotti@zhdk.ch


Office hours by appointment 


Class sessions include a lecture/discussion each Monday from 13.00-15.00 ZT in 4.K16 (last day in 6.F01).

OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES 

The seminar proposes a critical examination of political components of design as it articulates technology and society. 
Design is often understood on the surface as an activity producing more or less useful or ornamental things - outside the scope of its entanglements with questions of policy, trade, labor, gender, resources, power structures. Yet, designers can hold an agenda in these matters and designed artefacts and systems can affect how people live, communicate and act. This seminar thus proposes to uncover the material dimension of politics. Through case studies, observations of situations, film excerpts, exercises, guest lectures and essays, we will look at those entanglements as well as address systems that may not seem 'designed' as such but that present components of being planned and organised for a particular purpose. 

The 12 sessions of the seminar are structured around 3 sections: 

  1. 'Spaces, Artefacts and Politics' held by Verena Ziegler
  2. 'Complex Systems & Power Structures' held by Dr Joëlle Bitton

  3.  'Enabling, Framing, Orchestrating and Reasoning Design' held by Stefano Vannotti

EXPECTATIONS AND GRADING

The seminar proposes a critical conversation, addressing political components of design and their influence on human life. Methods of discussion, observation and critical thinking are practiced throughout.
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.

Class participation 20% 

In-class assignments 30%

Final Essay 50%

Any assignment that remains unfulfilled receives a failing grade. 


ESSAY

The final assignment should develop a question from the topics dealt with during the semester and include these in form of a critical or argumentative essay. Start with asking a question that you can answer from arguments collected in readings and discussions.

Extent of the essay about 2500 words with references and bibliography.

The essay can be written in German or English. 

Essay deadline: uploaded to PAUL on 02.06.20.

More information and submission:
https://paul.zhdk.ch/course/view.php?id=936#section-9

COURSE MATERIALS 

Readings are made available in the shared IAD server or PAUL (lesson 8-11)

CALENDAR & SESSIONS

Session 01 – 02.03. Spaces and Politics 

Introduction of course outline 

Reyner Banham Loves Los Angeles, BBC 1972, http://vimeo.com/22488225.

William H. Whyte, The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_-nBr2MuBk.

Questions to answer in preparation to the seminar:

Try to map out (or highlight in the text) the Essays trajectory opinions and characteristics.

Session 02 - 09.03. Spaces 

Presentations of practical exercises

Didier Faustino, https://didierfaustino.com

Readings to be read in advance, preparation of presentations of observations and preparation of notes.

Session 3 - 16.03. Artifacts and Politics 

Readings to be read in advance and preparation of notes.

Session 04 – 23.03 - The Design of Trade

Commodities & entanglement

 ▪ Cassandra Mark-Thiesen, “Labour Recruitment in the Nineteenth Century: The Place of Practicality” (Ch. 2). In Mediators, Contract Men, and Colonial Capital: Mechanized Gold Mining in the Gold Coast Colony, 1879-1909, University of Rochester Press, 2018.

Giorgi Riello, "The Globalization of cotton textiles. Indian Cottons, Europe, and the Atlantic World, 1600–1850". In Prasannan Parthasarathi and Giorgio Riello, eds, The Spinning World: A Global History of Cotton Textiles, 1200-1850 (Oxford, 2009).

 Mi You. (2018). Silk Roads, Tributary Networks and Old and New Imperialism. Extra States: Nations in Liquidation. C. Edwards and i. Fokianaki. Antwerp, Kunsthal Extra City. 

Readings to be read in advance and preparation of notes to be sent by Monday morning before class. You're expected to inquire about the authors and to research the background of the topics for discussion in class.

Session 05 – 30.03 - Decolonizing Technologies

Readings to be read in advance and preparation of notes to be sent by Monday morning before class. You're expected to inquire about the authors and to research the background of the topics for discussion in class.

Session 06 – 06.04 Complex Systems & Power Structures

Readings to be read in advance and preparation of notes to be sent by Monday morning before class. You're expected to inquire about the authors and to research the background of the topics for discussion in class.

Session 07 – 20.04.2020

Enjoy staying at home. How about already diving into the reading for next lesson?

Session 08 – 27.04.2020 – Enabling Design: MindShift, SkillShift, CultureShift

In the 8th lesson of this theory course we dive into central aspects of a strategic design attitude, into designerly approaches and tools for entrepreneurial and social challenges, and into the characteristics of a holistic design culture.

Keywords: Design Culture, Design Attitude, Systems Thinking, Transition Design, Strategic Design

More information and reading assignment:
https://paul.zhdk.ch/course/view.php?id=936#section-4

Session 09  – 04.05.2020 – Framing Design: Multi-leveled Transformation & Reflection in Action

In today's seminar we focus on the transformative process in the different design dimensions (product, system, society) and we learn how designers actively intertwingle these levels by shaping the in-between.

Keywords: Design Process, Reflective Practice, Role of the Designer

More information and reading assignment:
https://paul.zhdk.ch/course/view.php?id=936#section-5

Session 10 – 11.05.2020 – Orchestrating Design: Co-Design, Innovation Culture & Organizational Change 

This Lesson looks at a set of design methods to strengthen collaborative approaches and thematize how to foster a culture of innovation and trust in organizational settings.

Keywords: Co-Design, Design Methods, Organizational Design, Innovation Culture

More information and reading assignment:
https://paul.zhdk.ch/course/view.php?id=936#section-6

Session 11 – 18.05.2020 –  Reasoning Design: Design Argumentation, Impact Management & Storytelling

In the last lesson of our theory class we focus on aspects of successful design reasoning: measures, levels of impact and elements of storytelling.

Keywords: Design Artifacts, Design Knowledge, Design Argument, Impact Management, Storytelling

More information :
https://paul.zhdk.ch/course/view.php?id=936#section-7

Session 12 – 25.05.2020

Use the time to write your essay!