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TPD4202

Humanitarian Design and Technology

Choose study year

Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Course start Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Gjøvik and Trondheim
Examination arrangement Assignment

About

About the course

Course content

Humanitarian design is a term that can be used to describe the process of designing products, services or systems for populations affected by natural and/or man-made disasters. The course aims to develop students' knowledge of designing design interventions for a humanitarian market. The course aims to develop an individual and team-based agency to work through design in increased unpredictability, with marginalised populations and with multi-stakeholders including humanitarian organisations, private and public stakeholders. The course will consist of a case-based process, complemented by lectures and theories from humanitarian design, design anthropology, service innovation, scenario building, contingency planning and entrepreneurial mindsets. The course will also introduce examples of the role of technology in humanitarian relief.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

The candidate

  • has basic knowledge of what characterizes the humanitarian market and its influence on design
  • has basic knowledge of methodological tools and practical examples of what is needed for humanitarian design to succeed.
  • can reflect on the responsibility regarding sustainable and ethical design processes in settings with challenged infrastructure, large power disparities, vulnerable populations and low income.

Skills:

The candidate

  • has tried out different methods and techniques to understand how design can provide value in a humanitarian context.
  • has gained basic experience of how to work methodically, systematically and human-centered in spite of ethical dilemmas and unpredictability in a humanitarian setting.

General competence:

The candidate

  • has knowledge of concepts, methods, values and practices in humanitarian design

Learning methods and activities

Group projects based on selected cases provided by international NGOs and companies. Method and design concept report to be developed throughout the course. Readings on humanitarianism, humanitarian technology and humanitarian relief standards.

The groups receive regular group supervision sessions, lectures and guest lectures from Urban Ecological Planning, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of Geography in addition to the Department of Design. International guest lectures are also invited in accordance with the case projects.

This course is offered to international master students. Language of instruction is English.

Further on evaluation

Re-take exam is held in the next semester.

Required previous knowledge

The course is a part of the Erasmus Mundus programme Human Response MSHUMRES, and is a mandatory course for these students in the spring semester. This is why the course is taught in English. Students from the Department of Design who have completed a minimum of D3 can apply. Students at master level from design, architecture, entrepreneurship, urban planning, global health, public health, building and environment or human geography can also apply.

Course materials

Course material will be handed out by course beginning and in advance of lectures

Subject areas

  • Design Methodology

Contact information