course-details-portlet

TPD4129

Design 7 - System

Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Gjøvik and Trondheim
Examination arrangement Aggregate score

About

About the course

Course content

Design 7 is a course that connects systems thinking, sustainability and design. In this course, students will receive training in working with complex problems at system level through applying design. The teaching includes review of theory and perspectives, practical exercises in the use of relevant methods, tools and frameworks and execution of a practical design project. In this course, students will work both individually and in groups.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

  • The student can formulate and describe how they can work with design at the system level and contribute to system changes as a designer
  • The student can explain basic concepts in systems thinking and system design
  • The student recognizes and understands relationships and system dynamics, and can argue which methods can be used to analyze system dynamics and realizations between elements in a system
  • The student can explain design methodology and frameworks that can be used in the development of sustainable solutions in complex and intractable / tangled problems

Skills:

  • The student can shape, visualize, and create design concepts at the system level.
  • Through visualization and forming, the student can demonstrate an understanding of socio-technical systems and their analysis
  • The student will demonstrate their skills in the development of a design concept/or design intervention

General competence:

  • The student has used and expanded previously acquired design methodology in a complex situation, and has developed an understanding of the interaction between elements in a system, and how different stakeholders may have different needs and wishes
  • Through group work, the candidate will develop and demonstrate interpersonal competence and skills in working practically with problem solving

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, workshops, guest lectures, group work and group supervision. During the course, students will complete mandatory practical assignments that are part of a final delivery. Oral presentation of the work will also be an important activity.

If the course has exchange students enrolled, the teaching will be conducted in English.

Further on evaluation

The Student must demonstrate an understanding of design at the system level; how to design a system or how to design for change in a system. Furthermore, the student must demonstrate the knowledge through the compulsory assignments in the course.

Assessment is based on the compulsory practical assignment and a oral presentation of project.

  • If failed, you are allowed to submit a new or revised project next semester
  • For voluntary course retake to improve grade, all assessments in the course must be retaken

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

The course is reserved for masterstudents in Industrial Design.

Course materials

Will be given at the start of the course.

Subject areas

  • Design
  • Technological subjects

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Design

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Aggregate score
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

Assignments
Weighting 80/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment
Oral presentation
Weighting 20/100 Examination aids Code E Date 2025-11-27 Time 08:00 Duration 30 minutes

Re-sit examination - Spring 2026

Assignments
Weighting 80/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment
Oral presentation
Weighting 20/100 Examination aids Code E Duration 30 minutes