Structuring your design-oriented PhD project

Learning objectives

After completion of the course, students will have some basic knowledge on design methodology and they will be able to structure their own design process, justify design choices and write scientific papers on their design project. In particular the PhD candidates should be able to:

• understand domain and situation dependency of design processes.
• be able to structure their own design process.
• be able to justify design choices.
• be able to critically discuss design results.
• be able to write scientific papers on your design project.

Contents

• 1: Design methodologies: structuring design processes 
  Chapter 5: The structure of the design process (Roozenburg & Eekels)
• 2: Design goals, literature, requirements 
  Chapter 6.1 to 6.5: Analysis from Design Problem to Design Specification (Roozenburg & Eekels)
• 3: Creativity techniques 
  Chapter 7: Synthesis: Thinking Up a ‘Provisional’ Design (Roozenburg & Eekels)
• 4: Design evaluation and Decision Making 
  Chapter 9: Evaluation and Decision Making: What is the Best Design? (Roozenburg & Eekels)
• 5: Writing design papers 
  Materials will be provided

Required background

• Design oriented nature of PhD project
• General engineering background

Course material

Roozenburg, N.F.M. and J. Eekels (1995) "Product Design: Fundamentals and Methods", John Wiley & Sons. Relevant chapters will be provided in the course.

Materials on scientific paper writing will be provided.

ECTS credits:
1.5(=5GSC)

Lecturer(s):
Prof.Dr.Ir. Just Herder and Dr.Ir. Regine Vroom 

Course dates:

2021 (specific dates will be announced)

PhD candidates will work together on their topic and present the result at the beginning of the next course day.

Group sizes:
The course will be offered for a minimum of 6 participants and a maximum of 12 participants per session. Access will be on a first come first served basis.

Assessment:
Session assignments and final presentation.

Contact:
PhD candidates wishing to participate should contact Prof.Dr.Ir. Just Herder or Dr.Ir. Regine Vroom by email at least two weeks before the start of the course, indicating their primary study, supervisor/promoter and preferred start date.