Lecturers:
Dr. Joëlle Bitton
Prof. Jürgen Späth
Mag. Dipl. Des. Nicole Foelsterl
Office hours by appointment
(1) Overview and Objectives
The BA concept seminar is considered as a way to quickly prototype and showcase the thesis project in a video narrative. Students will develop a conceptual and practical exploration for their final BA thesis and present the experience they aim to create in the form of a 3-page project description, a prototype/mock-up showing the core aspects of the interactive experience they are aiming to create and a video communicating the thesis concept and intent. A miro board will support notes and sketches gathered in the 2-weeks.
The concept seminar addresses notions in preparation for their final thesis work:
- what does it mean to make a statement and a contribution to the field of interaction design?
- how to identify the design, social and experiential opportunities within the topic of interest?
- how to define a space of potential design explorations?
- how to narrow down the topic following own personal positioning, approach and interests?
- how to present the desired embodied experience that the BA thesis should engender?
The 2 weeks are divided into two parts: an investigative week with quick exercises, iterations, field studies and achieving a first initial prototype and a second week where they continue the process and summarise their BA idea and related experience in a video.
See below for a detailed calendar.
Grades will be based on class participation and final works.
Contributing to constructive group feedback is an essential aspect of class participation.
Regular attendance of 80% is required. Two or more unexcused absences will affect the final grade. Arriving late on more than one occasion will also affect the grade.
Video-Storytelling 30%
Mock up 30%
Project Description 20%
Exercises & Class participation 20%
Any assignment that remains unfulfilled receives a failing grade.
Your objective and the experience you want to create should be presented in a video format with a narrative - think of it as a way to communicate to others your concept and as a way to test if your concept comes across.
The mock up or prototype is the manifestation of your ideas into a service, a product, a method, a user's experience, etc - use basic or advanced materials to showcase your ideas in the shape of a rapid prototype (go into the field if needed for your project). It should be "functional" so we can experience it when exhibited.
A 2-3-page text should answer the following questions - since your last disposition how did it evolve?
The essay expands the thesis disposition with observations and conclusions drawn from the two weeks BA concept seminar.
You may use a diversity of sources and bibliography (classified by genre: book, book chapter, journal article, conference article, academic thesis, newspaper article, web article, etc).
In addition, add your up-to-date mapping of related works.
Mockup to be presented on 4.12.
Choice of mentor teams to be sent to Duy via email by Monday 8.12, 17:00.
Storytelling to be presented on 11.12
Final Deliverables to be uploaded on the server by Monday 15.12 at 9:00.
See description of exercises below
| Week 1 | Monday 1.12 | Tuesday 2.12 | Wednesday 3.12 | Thursday 4.12 | Friday 5.12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning 9.00 - 12.30 (unless otherwise noted) | 9.00 Brief Introduction about the module and quick keywords round 9.30 Exercise 1: 20 ways of description in 20 minutes 10.00 Start Exercise 2: Topic Mapping (Lotus Blossom method) 11.10-12.00: Exercise 3: Ideation Speed dating / table sketching 12.00 Quick round - 2 highlights | 9.00 10.00 Exercise 5:
| 9.00 Mentoring (js) Prepare in advance exercise 6: Develop 2-3 "How might we" - Questions
| Develop prototype | Prepare next assignments |
| Afternoon 13.30 - 17.00 | Exercise 4: field study/observations/interviews - put notes on Miro board by 18.00 | Continue exercise 2, 4.. Develop prototype - put notes on Miro board by 18.00 | Develop prototype
| 14.00 (jb, js) | Minor |
| Week 2 | Monday 8.12 | Tuesday 9.12 | Wednesday 10.12 | Thursday 11.12 | Friday 12.12 |
| Morning 9.00 - 12.00 | Input/workshop - storytelling send choice of mentoring team by 17:00 | Mentoring storytelling - Prepare storyboard (on Zoom) | Mentoring on request (jb) | 11.00 Presentations 2: Develop narrative | Work on final assignments |
| Afternoon 13.00 - 17.00 | Develop narrative /Field Study | Mentoring on request (js) Develop narrative | Continued Presentations 2: | Minor |
Exercise 1: 20 ways of description
Write down and/or sketch out twenty ways to define your thesis project as if a journalist would write an article about it: it has to have several elements of description, ie. "this brainstorm app provides a way to schedule todo lists"; "this service for elderly supports their morning routing"; "this public space interactive installation connects people from two cities at a distance", etc...
Write on post its and later sort them into categories. Define two or three most important statements.
Exercise 2: Topic mapping - Lotus Blossom method + moodboard/benchmark
Define a central idea and design a matrix of 3x3 around it to expand related themes & elements - make a new matrix for each of the 8 additions.
In addition, list all the qualities that make your approach unique, the parameters you commit to and the values your project conveys that are important for your thesis and your ambition as a designer.
Find the most relevant existing projects that match your criteria (it could be a particular aspect of a project). Use sketches, photos or collages to present projects on your wall. This mapping will continue & evolve throughout the seminar.
Exercise 3: Ideation Speed Dating / Table sketching
5-minutes exchange around the table, talk, be concise in your feedback, draw & move fast...
Exercise 4: Observation / Field inquiry
Find out through a quick observation and field inquiry some elements that could inspire the directions you take. *It could also be in the form of bodystorming, auto-ethnography, role playing... Post photos & findings on Miro Board.
Exercise 5: Design Exploration Space (data visualisation)
Based on findings from previous exercises, make a data visualisation of the essentials of your thesis project: include stakeholders, contradictions, assumptions, skills, actionable moments, creative & unique 'selling points', etc... Use all the tools of a data vis: graphics, colours, structure of info, diagrams, etc..
Exercise 6: Develop 2-3 "How might we" - Questions
Develop two to three "How might we" - Questions!