Examination arrangement

Course content

The course will give the student an introduction to basic knowledge and skills for product design, where aesthetics and user-oriented solutions are emphasized. Knowledge of form theory must form the basis for the analysis and development of three-dimensional form. The course should give the student the opportunity to explore different forms of expression. The course will give students insight into the terms used to describe and analyze form, and be able to use terminology to be able to verbalize about the visual examples.

Knowledge of colour, color systems and the theory of color harmony and contrast forms the basis for ideas for products. Color as a physical, physiological and chemical phenomenon. Color seen in the context of product semantics is emphasized. Experimentation and development of a color palettes.

Basic design methodology is central in the subject. The students should be able to conduct the methods directly in design projects. User orientation and awareness of the product's life cycle will be introduced in the design methodology.

Learning outcome

Skills:

The candidate:

• has basic knowledge of form theory; the basic geometric shapes, curves and cavities, direction, axes, proportions, symmetry/asymmetry and balance, structures and relationship between harmony and contrast
• has knowledge of perception, and the role of perception in product design
• knows the gestalt laws and how these can be used as a basis for composition
• has knowledge of basic design theory; "Design thinking", and implementation to product design
• has knowledge of color theory, color systems and color as a symbol
• can observe and analyze design based on color theory
• has knowledge of ergonomics and anthropometry
• have an understanding of a product's life cycle, including important factors int the product's life cycle

Skills:

• can carry out a design process based on design methodology to develop own proposals and ideas
• can carry out formal aesthetic analysis of products, functional analysis, verbalization and conceptual clarification
• can work systematically and analytically with three-dimensional shapes and produce physical sketch models
• can develop a color palette for a product proposal
• can transfer color theory and color examples to product semantics
• can observe and analyze their own and others' color suggestions based on theory
• can apply design theory for mapping and data collection
• can define user; use methodology to understand the user context
• can develop a scenario and use personas
• be able to use terminology to describe process and results

General competence:

• can plan and carry out varied tasks and projects that extend over time, individually and as a partisipant in a group; in line with ethical requirements and guidelines
• can convey central subject topics such as theories, problems and solutions, both in writing, orally and through three-dimensional models in materials and color experiments
• can exchange views and experiences with fellow students in the subject area, and the development of good practice

Learning methods and activities

Lecturing in Campus classrooms and labs, group work and student-active forms of learning, project-based learning, presentation and discussion, practical exercises in the lab with form experimentation.

Form experimentation in the lab is mandatory work requirements.

Further on evaluation

Obligatory assignments given formative assessment; graded pass or fail. Assignments must be graded pass to be able to take the final exam; a project work. The assignment work submitted digitally to Inspera. If fail: New assignments must be submitted the next time the course is run.

If the obligatory assignments are graded to fail the candidate must take the course anew.

Specific conditions

Course materials

Erik Lerdahl: «Nyskapning, arbeidsbok i kreative metoder», Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS 2017

ISBN: 978 -82-05-50439-4

Anbefalt litteratur:

«The Aestetics of Industrial design, seeing, designing and making" Richard Herriott, 2022

ISBN 978-1-032-02419-6 (hbk)