course-details-portlet

TPD4202

Humanitarian Design and Technology

Choose study year
Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2024
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English and norwegian
Location Gjøvik and Trondheim
Examination arrangement Report

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.

Further on evaluation

Re-take exam is held in the next semester.

Required previous knowledge

Students from the Department of Design who have completed a minimum of D3, including exchange students from design, architecture, urban planning, building and environment or human geography.

Course materials

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

Subject areas

  • Design Methodology

Contact information

Course coordinator

Lecturers

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Design