Course - From Idea to Prototype - TPD4132
From Idea to Prototype
Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.
About
About the course
Course content
The course provides students with the skills to design and build advanced digital and physical interactive products. These products are controlled through electronics and mechatronics, and are intended to provide good user experiences.
The course covers the following topics:
- Electronics: Microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators
- Mechatronics: Mechanics and control systems
- Tangible user interfaces: Interactive tangible user interfaces that allow users to manipulate or display digital information through physical objects
- Model building: Physical and digital methods and tools for creating functional and tangible representations of design ideas
Learning outcome
Upon completing the course, students will be able to:
Knowledge
- Explain electronic and mechatronic systems and how they can be used to create interactive and user-centered products
- Discuss the use of physical user interfaces in interactive products
Skills
- Design and implement simple electronic systems using microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators
- Design and implement simple mechatronic systems using electronics, pneumatics, and mechanics
- Develop advanced functional interactive models with physical user interfaces
- Integrate physical and digital techniques to produce coherent user experiences
General competence
- Collaborate effectively in design teams to design and develop physical user interfaces for interactive models
- Critically assess functionality, usability, visual communication, and aesthetic quality in physical user interfaces for interactive models
Learning methods and activities
The course employs a combination of learning methods and activities, such as:
- Field studies: Conducting necessary user research and insight work
- Lectures: Theoretical foundations, design of physical user experiences, and design of interactive user interfaces with microcontrollers and mechatronics
- Workshops: Practical sessions focusing on model building at various levels of detail, including functional models with microcontrollers and electronic components
- Project work: One or more comprehensive projects where students design, build, and test both digital and physical elements in the workshop, including physical user interfaces
- Group discussions and peer reviews: Reflection on the design process, human-centered methods, and ongoing project work
A tentative plan for learning activities is presented at the start of the semester. Physical attendance is required.
Further on evaluation
The portfolio should contain
- 2-4 exercises
- Up to two smaller projects
- A large main project.
The number can be adjusted at the start of the semester.
The exercises consist of exercises and work in electronics and mechatronics and last for 3-4 weeks.
The two small projects are in electronics and mechatronics respectively and last for 2-3 weeks each.
The large main project lasts for 6-7 weeks and includes everything the students have learned in the course.
The time and scope can be adjusted at the start of the semester
Exercises are part of the assessment basis and must be passed. Process and progression are not part of the assessment basis.
Mini-projects are part of the assessment basis and must be passed. Process and progression are not part of the assessment basis
Projects are part of the assessment basis and are graded. Process and progression are part of the assessment basis through a reflection note in the form of a blog.
The exercises and projects must be submitted in a given order and within given deadlines.
Personal or group supervision takes place in the drawing room and in the workshop by student assistants, subject teachers, workshop staff or by employees of external clients.
Submission deadlines are determined at the start of the semester. The deadlines are coordinated with other courses and examination deadlines and will be adjusted as needed during the semester.
Exercises are individual and demonstrated to student assistants or subject teachers for approval
Mini-projects are done in pairs or groups and demonstrated to subject teachers for approval
The main project is carried out in groups and demonstrated to subject teachers and submitted in the examination system.
Only the main project forms the basis for grading and grading.
The entire course or parts of it must be retaken in case of failure. For a voluntary retake to improve the grade, the entire course must be repeated.
Specific conditions
Admission to a programme of study is required:
Industrial Design Engineering (MTDESIG)
Required previous knowledge
Admission to the study programme Industrial Design (MTDESIG) is required.
In addition, the following courses are required (or equivalent):
- TPD4010 or TPD4100 and TPD4111
- TPD4128 or TPD4112 and TPD4127
- TPD4121 or TPD4122
Course materials
Course material will be announced at course start
Credit reductions
| Course code | Reduction | From |
|---|---|---|
| TPD4126 | 7.5 sp | Autumn 2025 |
| TPD4123 | 7.5 sp | Autumn 2026 |
Subject areas
- Design Methodology