course-details-portlet

TPD4505

Design Theory, Specialization Course

Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2025 / Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English and norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement A scientific paper

About

About the course

Course content

The aim of this course is to extend the knowledge about scientific and theoretical approaches used in design research. Key abilities that students should practice are: 1) Choosing, defining and refine a research topic for further scientific study, 2) Using scientific research methodologies related to design research, 3) Selecting, reviewing and interpreting relevant literature, and deriving implications for future research, 4) Writing a scientific review article in English. The course set up requires students to select and refine a theme, and discuss with an assigned IPD supervisor approaches towards writing a scientific review article. All results must be open for publication.

It should be noted that students can determine self the topic they write about, and have many opportunities to obtain theoretical knowledge related to design for sustainability themes.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

  • The course has provided the candidates with a theoretical specialization related to design.
  • Students have improved their knowledge on how to collect, read, appropriate and write scientific literature.

Skills:

  • Students have understood the value of gaining theoretical and scientific knowledge to complement the designer's toolbox
  • Students are able to write an academic essay (in English) using the insights gained from article writing exercise, literature studies and method choices.

General competence:

  • Candidates can write a scientific paper related to design research.
  • Candidates can organise and execute an independent project, and can organise supervision from relevant teachers according to their needs.
  • Candidates gain experience with opportunities and challenges related to choice of theme and focus finding in an independent project. Thereby they will be better prepared for their master thesis.

Learning methods and activities

Literature review, supervision meetings, and article writing. It is expected that students work very independently, and organise a supervision routine with an appointed supervisor themselves. In addition there will be lectures about article writing and the role of artificial intelligence, and peer review meetings.

This course is offered to international master students. Language of instruction is English and Norwegian.

Further on evaluation

  • Students should submit article drafts twice during the semester, but these are not graded as the final grade is entirely based on the final assignment.
  • The course must be taken again if it is not passed the first time, but it is allowed to continue with the same article topic.
  • The whole course and all article drafts must be taken over again, with a new article theme, in case students voluntarily want to enroll a second time to improve their grade.
  • Evaluation is based on a detailed evaluation schema which is made available during the introduction lecture.

Specific conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required:
Industrial Design Engineering (MTDESIG)

Required previous knowledge

The subject is compulsory for Industrial Design students, who should be finished with their fourth year courses, although one or two missing grades can be acceptable. The course is normally taken in the same semester as TPD4500; However, both courses can also be taken consecutively (TPD4505 first). This may be a good option for students who are traveling on exchange in the semester before they take TPD4500.

Course materials

Defined individually.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
IDG4320 7.5 sp Autumn 2025
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Product Design Engineering - Design Methodology
  • Eco Design
  • Design Strategies
  • Design Methodology
  • Interaction Design

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: A scientific paper
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

A scientific paper
Weighting 100/100 Date Submission 2025-11-24 Time Submission 14:00 Exam system Inspera Assessment

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

A scientific paper
Weighting 100/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment