Course - Design Theory, Specialization Course - TPD4505
Design Theory, Specialization Course
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 |
Subject areas
- Product Design Engineering - Design Methodology
- Eco Design
- Design Strategies
- Design Methodology
- Interaction Design
Contact information
Course coordinator
Lecturers
- Andre Liem
- Ashis Jalote Parmar
- Brita Fladvad Nielsen
- Ida Nilstad Pettersen
- Jon Herman Rismoen
- Marikken Høiseth
- Martin Høgh Olsen
- Martina Maria Keitsch
- Mattheus Bernardus van Dijk
- Ole Andreas Alsos
- Trond Are Øritsland