Course syllabus - Early Phases in Innovation and Design

Objectives

The objective of the course is for students to acquire the ability to develop, describe, discuss and present ideas in the early stages of innovation and design processes, as well as to reason about suggested innovation and design solutions from an ethical perspective.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student shall be able to:
1. apply methods for identifying needs and describing problems in conjunction with receivers and/or users
2. select and apply suitable sketching and presentation methods for representations in the early stages
3. apply explorative multimodal dialogue
4. identify and reflect upon the consequences of initiating and realising different innovation and design solutions for different stakeholders
5. analyse and evaluate innovation and design projects as learning processes.

Course content

- Methods for investigating design and/or innovation needs in collaboration
- The selection of suitable sketching and presentation methods
- Different materials for communication 
- The communicative act as a tool in investigative stages
- Innovation ethics
- Design ethics
- Research ethics

Specific requirements

A completed Bachelor´s degree, equivalent to 140 credits. In addition, Swedish B/Swedish 3 and English A/English 6 are required. For courses given in entirely in English exemption is made from the requirement in Swedish.

Examination

Field study report (FSR1), 4,5 credits, examines the learning objectives 1-3, marks Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG)
Seminar (SEM1), 3 credits, examines the learning objectives 4-5, marks Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG)

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Three-grade scale

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

The course completely overlaps with ITE414 Early Phases in Innovation and Design, ITE425 Early Phases in Innovation and Design and ITE421 Early Phases in Innovation and Design.