Understanding Design

We are surrounded by designed objects, from highways that traverse thousands of kilometers to a pen drive that fits a lot in the smallest of spaces. Designers have used their skills to translate ideas and needs into all the objects that we see around us. Design can be interpreted in multiple ways and can mean different things in different contexts. This course aims to create an awareness and understanding of the discipline of design and its multidisciplinary nature. The relevance and value of design and how it impacts society, industry and the environment is established through lectures, case studies and project activities.This course is for those who are curious to understand what design is and why is it important.

Module 1- An Introduction to Design

• 1.1 Module Description
• 1.2 LEC 1:An Introduction to Design
• 1.3 LEC 2:The many notions of design
• 1.4 LEC 3:Design as a process and a product
• 1.5 ALM1: Why Design Matters
• 1.6 ALM 2: Design Matters- Doing better with Less
• 1.7 LEC 4:The evolution of design
• 1.8 LEC 5:Design engages with many disciplines
• 1.9 LEC 6:Design is concerned with the user
• 1.10 LEC 7:Good design, bad design
• 1.11 Reference Material
• 1.12 Assignment- module1

Module 2- Users and Context

• 2.1 Module Description
• 2.2 LEC 1: Users and Contexts
• 2.3 ALM 1: User Centered Design- Don Norman
• 2.4 LEC 2: Multiple users, differing contexts
• 2.5 ALM 2: Lucky Iron Fish: A simple solution for a global problem
• 2.6 LEC 3: Understanding user experience
• 2.7 ALM 3: Three laws of user experience
• 2.8 LEC 4: Design for a meaningful impact
• 2.9 Reference Material
• 2.10 Assignment-Module2

Module 3-Design and Society

• 3.1 Module Description
• 3.2 LEC 1: Design and Society
• 3.3 ALM 1:Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya
• 3.4 LEC 2: Community and Collaboration
• 3.5 ALM 2: In the Forest Hangs a Bridge
• 3.6 LEC 3: Understanding Contexts
• 3.7 LEC 4: Knowledge and Access
• 3.8 ALM 3: The new bionics that let us run, climb and dance
• 3.9 LEC 5: Meeting Needs: Necessity or Luxury?
• 3.10 LEC 6: Function, Context and Consequences
• 3.11 Reference Material
• 3.12 Assignment-Module3

Module 4 - Design and Sustainability

• 4.1 Module Description
• 4.2 LEC 1: Design & Sustainability
• 4.3 ALM 1: The Story of Stuff
• 4.4 LEC 2: The cost of looking the other way
• 4.5 ALM 2: Sir Terry Leahy: Lean Thinking
• 4.6 LEC 3: Sustainability practices in daily life
• 4.7 LEC 4: The perspective of engineering
• 4.8 LEC 5: Understanding embodied energy
• 4.9 LEC 6: The user’s role in sustainability
• 4.10 LEC 7: Framing the world’s future
• 4.11 Reference Material
• 4.12 Assignment-Module4

Module 5 - Design and Industry

• 5.1 Module Description
• 5.2 LEC 1: Design & industry
• 5.3 LEC 2: Understanding varied user needs
• 5.4 ALM 1: Objectified: Smart Design OXO Good Grips Story
• 5.5 LEC 3: Success through new materials and manufacturing
• 5.6 LEC 4: Pushing the boundaries of mass production
• 5.7 ALM 2: In The Beginning Was The Bentwood Chair
• 5.8 LEC 5: A Classic chair for all times
• 5.9 LEC 6: Breaking familiar assumptions
• 5.10 Reference Material
• 5.11 Assignment- module 5

Module 6 - Design and collaboration

• 6.1 Module Description
• 6.2 LEC 1: Design & Collaboration
• 6.3 ALM 1: Pixar 2014 The Power of Teamwork Short Film
• 6.4 LEC 2: Team work
• 6.5 ALM 2: Assistive Technology Design Collaboration
• 6.6 LEC 3: Collaborating with unlikely partners
• 6.7 ALM 3: Weidner Architectural Signage - Design Build Collaboration Case
• 6.8 LEC 4: Principles of collaboration
• 6.9 ALM 4: Cultivating Collaboration
• 6.10 LEC 5: Design thinking
• 6.11 ALM 5: Design Thinking Ideation, Experimentation, Prototyping and Test
• 6.12 LEC 6: Feedback and assessment
• 6.13 Reference Material
• 6.14 Assignment- module 6

Module 7 - Innovation by Design

• 7.1 Module Description
• 7.2 LEC 1: Innovation by Design
• 7.3 LEC 2: Facilitating the reach of a traditional craft
• 7.4 LEC 3: Pitfalls of innovation
• 7.5 ALM 1: Jaipur Foot
• 7.6 LEC 4: The seven concerns of innovation
• 7.7 LEC 5: From a concern to a palki
• 7.8 ALM 2: Out of Poverty: Paul Polak on Practical Problem Solving
• 7.9 LEC 6: A little design goes a long way
• 7.10 Reference Material
• 7.11 Assignment- module 7