MA Studio 

Lecturers

Joëlle Bitton, DDes

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This studio course is structured with inputs, discussions, mentoring sessions, independent study blocks, as well as exercises showcasing methods from various art & design disciplines.
Students are expected during their independent study time to iterate several times on concepts discussed in class. Projects are conducted by groups of 2 students . One group (groups of 3 students can be formed.could be an option if argued for). 

Methods

We will use a wide range of methods - below are short descriptions of some of them. These methods from a range of different disciplines can be adapted or iterated upon:

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Dancing Exercise
In this method, we see performance as an anchor point in iterating concepts. Like William Forsythe, who's basic idea is taking ballet as a language with its own vocabulary and rules, to break it and bend it, you can take geometries like of classic dance to be twisted, tilt or pulled out of a line. This is a way to mess with social conventions. We do not act "properly", like dancing in a discussion or talking in a dancing piece. Dancing becomes a method of investigation like Forsythe was remarking "I think by dancing I was able to understand a lot of things. I was able to intuit things about mathematics and philosophy … "(BBC Radio 3 2003, interview with John Tusa) So how do we understand the patterns of social dynamics around us and how do we stretch and break it apart to gain a better understanding?

link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Forsythe_(choreographer)
link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/27/arts/design/the-shed-new-york-prelude.html

Bodystorming
Bodystorming is an improvisational brainstorm based on interaction and movement with the body. To remind participants that interactions are human and physical, to teach stakeholders empathy for users, and to get away from our computers. "Bodystorming is useful when you are designing devices or interior or exterior spaces. For example, you might use bodystorming to understand how users of different heights and ages would experience different versions of aircraft cabins (for example, what are the problems with lifting luggage in crowded planes from the floor to the overhead bins), or the layout of modern train cars. Bodystorming can be quite useful in understanding the experience of teams who work in close quarters like doctors and nurses in an operating room or the cooking staff in a restaurant. Bodystorming is a way to envision how people will interact with ubiquitous computing systems like smart homes and virtual meeting spaces." (Design Research at Autodesk)
link: Bodystorming as embodied Designing (ACM)

Expectations and Gradings

Grades will be based on group presentations and exercises, class participation, documentation (continuous and final) and final work. 
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.for this class are passing or failing.

All assignments are mandatory to pass:

• Final work &

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• final documentation (video/photos/text)
• Online journal with notes, sketches & findings
• Exercises/

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• presentations 
• Class participation 

Any assignment that remains unfulfilled receives a failing grade. 
Arriving late on more than one occasion and repeatedly may also affect the passing grade.  .
Regular attendance is required. Attendance of all the in-class sessions are expected.

Deliverables

1. Final Work: The format of the final outcome is up to the students. It could be: a performance, a prototype, a movie, an installation, a graphic work, an intervention, etc. It needs to be in sync with the intention and the process.
2. On-going online documentation in the form of a journal containing photos, recordings, text of the process (choice of online format is freecollective use of Miro board).
3. A final documentation package should include a 1mn 1-2mn video, 5-7 high quality photos and a short PDF with title/authors/text abstract/highlights/findings.

Timetable & Assignments

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