INTERACTION DESIGN THEORY SEMINAR 5th semester
Fall 2023
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INTERACTION DESIGN THEORY SEMINAR 5th semester
Fall 2023
Lecturer:
Dr Joëlle Bitton, joelle.bitton@zhdk.ch
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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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Session 01 – 25.09.23 – What is the Action? - Part One - 4.K16
This session is structured in three parts.
A quick look at 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.
An initial discussion with students Writing exercises based on reflections by students 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 :
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Assignments for the following week: .
Assignments for the following week:
- Find a non-Western 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.
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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.
What responsibilities do you have?
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:
- Describe topic choice in 2 structured paragraph with initial research questions
- Plan tandem choice
- Readings
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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:
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...
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Session 04 - 16.10.23 - What is the Action? - Part TwoTwo - 4.K16
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.
Assignment for 13.11.23: 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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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 09 – 13.11.22 23 – Joyful and Creative Research
Guest Intervention
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: Sadhna Jain, Camberwell College of Arts, 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.
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.
Assignment for the following week:
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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?
Session 12 – 04.12.23 – Re-Positioning
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.
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.
***15.12.23 - 20.00 - Final Assignment: deadline***
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