INTERACTION DESIGN THEORY SEMINAR 5th semester
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"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. creativity 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.
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- Readings & documents where indicated (various dates)
- Present a non-Western position pre-1899 (02.10.23)
- 1-page observation essay/visuals (1614.10.23)
- Present books (1917.10.23)
- Dream (04.12.23)
Mid-semester assignments (1311.11.2324)
Statement of Intent for the BA thesis.
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Session 01 – 23.09.24 – What is the Action? - Part One - Atelier Baustell, Hardgutstrasse 7, 8048 Zürich (Outdoors)Meeting at the mini-golf installations at Atelier Baustell & quick tour.
Discussion on location: Presenting the syllabus & assignments & arc of the course.
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Assignments for the following week:
- Find a 1 non-Western project that is itself a form of 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 inspiring to you, how it sets a certain defining moment and how it is relevant for our time. Share a copy of the manifesto on the server images/doc/short text on Miro board by the following Monday 9.00.
- Readings
Session 02 – 30.09.24 – In Formation Making & Making Sense - on Zoom
We'll first look at the manifesto material you found,
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.
Watching excepts from two movies recalling the legacy of the organisation Act Up :
- How to Survive A Plague (David France, 2012)
- 120 BPM (Robin Campillo, 2013)
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Session 03 – 07.10.24 – Checking your assumptions and Making Sense - 4.K16
Present Topic choice & tandem.
In and discuss the readings,
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.
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Learning by doing:
- Tin, Mikkel B. 2013. "Manifesto: Making and the Sense it makes". In Studies in Material Thinking. Vol.9 Inside Making.
Assignments for the following week:
- Describe topic choice in 2 structured paragraph with initial research questions and describe the creative components
- Plan tandem choice
Session 03 – 30.09.24 – In Formation - 4K16
Briefly Present Topic choice & tandem.
Then through the word "interaction", we address notions of taking action in a context of emergency, in particular the case study of Act Up, an organisation that has set methods of taking action.
Watching excepts from two movies recalling the legacy of the organisation Act Up :
- How to Survive A Plague (David France, 2012)
- 120 BPM (Robin Campillo, 2013)
In a class exercise, you will write about your own positioning.
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.
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.
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In groups of 2 or 3, find a way to create "an actionable moment" based on a piece of information you receive (I will distribute it) and rapid prototype it during class.
We'll review together the final assignment guidelines and the diploma thesis structure.
Assignment for 11.11.24: 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.
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Session 09 – 11.11.24 – Joyful and Creative Research
Guest Intervention: Sadhna Jain, Camberwell College of Arts, Naomi, UAL.
I am the Course Leader of the MA Graphic Design Communications Course, Camberwell College at University of the Arts, London. My educational and professional background is in Screen Arts, Interaction Design and Communication Design. Current research attends to the physio-geographies from the many human and living systems perspectives and the need to re-imagine complex ecologies and practices within this.Culturally Complicated – Critically Diverse
Sadhna
Assignment for the following week:
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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:
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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.
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