IO3020 - Design and Cultural Impact

Course Contents
The aim of the elective course Design & Cultural Impact is to understand the many ways products (and services) impact culture, and to design for it. Starting point of the course is the phenomenon that products shape our cultures and societies (cultural production), material culture, cultural values and practices (consumption), and vice versa; that these cultures (including the cultural background of the designer) influence how products are being shaped.

The context for the product design is delineated: For practical reasons, it is situated in The Netherlands so that students are able to visit and experience the chosen context themselves. However, a comparative between various national cultures could be part of study. 

In consultation with the course coordinator honour program students can do an extended project, for example, a literature study or an extended field research, or a preparation and recording of a lecture about a specific course related topic. 

Study Goals
The learning objectives are:

1. To analyse the cultural practices of people with products (consumption).
2. To interpret cultural insights and communicate about findings in a meaningful way in oral presentations and through visuals and writing.
3. To understand the complex relationship between shaping (production) and practising (consumption) of cultural meaning.
4. To design for cultural impact, which is to execute a design project from fuzzy front end and concept design to detailed design, resulting in a final 3d model, based on an envisioned cultural effect.

Education Method
The activities in this course have a highly explorative character. The individual selected phenomenon will be investigated through desk-top research (used to write an essay), observations in the field (photo safari), visual analysis (contextual analysis). From the start students are responsible for their individual results. The course will facilitate moments of group work for reasons of engagement and inspiration.

The lens to analyse, interpret, and understand a cultural phenomenon will be formed through lectures (partly guest lectures from experts and experiences in design for cultural impact) and through offered reading material (articles (newspapers and magazines) and scientific papers).
The communication and application of insights into design will be learned through lectures (examples) and weekly coaching.

Course attendance (lectures and coaching) is compulsory. 

Literature & Study Materials
The syllabus will describe the activities step by step, illustrated with examples.
Articles from newspapers and magazines, scientific papers, book chapters, and links to videos and films will be provided via Brightspace.

Assessment
The assessment is based on individual work recorded in a final report, including: 1. Essay, 2. Photo safari results, 3. Context visualisation and description, 4. A product proposal in context, and 5. A personal reflection on the possible impact of the product on the envisioned culture. Intermediate presentations will also be part of the assessment.

Points of attention for the report:

• Visual quality (at least 50% of the pages)
• Clear references (to used visuals, literature and other sources)
• Writing in English or Dutch

Enrollement/application
A mandatory application for all courses (mandatory and electives courses) shall be made via the electronic applications system MyTUDelft in the period that MyTUDelft there to is opened. This period closes about 5 calendar weeks prior to the first day of the semester in which the programme starts; the faculty announces the exact deadline for application timely. The application for courses has to take place per semester, meaning for courses of 2 quarters at once.

Click here for deadlines and details.