Aesthetics of Materiality in Product Design

In our world of things and artefacts, materiality shapes both culture and cognition. Humans depend on things and things depend on humans, and by active consideration we can discover the way materials direct and define us. This course takes creative engagement with the designer´s sensory modalities as a starting point for explorative design-processes and materials driven design, where subjective methods and personal experience become ways for handling complexity and relating to user experience.

The course is centered around practice-based research, and we will focus on working directly with materials, spatial interaction, developing model-studies and examining processes. Exploration is emphasised throughout the course and the student is expected to generate a comprehensive series of model outputs and to develop aesthetic, reflexive skills in design.

Language of instruction: English

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has:

• developed in-depth knowledge in visual and material articulation and aesthetic application
• achieved knowledge of theoretical basis and methodologies in practice-based research
• gained in-depth knowledge of material engagement and how the world of things, artifacts, and material signs can be embodied through practical exploration
• gained in-depth knowledge of the interplay between material-aesthetics and object-semantics
• gained knowledge of aesthetic strategies, methods and theory within a practical design research project

Skills

The student is capable of:

• independently running a discovery-led process and stating a relevant research question
• recognising and using relevant practical working methods
• developing concept and material model studies within a specific context
• analysing and reflecting on form and material application using relevant terminology
• dissecting and refining design models systematically
• analysing and synthesising experience from observations and various perceptions
• exhibiting and presenting their research using relevant terminology and tools

General Competence

The student:

• understands the need for and use of practical exploration
• is familiar with terminology and language of practice-based research

• material properties in a specific context

• design methodology

• product communication and semantics

• aesthetic principles of form and function in a specific context

• experimental material practice

The most important teaching and learning methods for this course are discussions, group work, lectures, self-studies and guidance

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• oral-presentation and feedback of theoretical and methodological approaches in the project

• oral-presentation and feedback of the project

Individual or group portfolio examination. The portfolio consists of:

• design process documentation should include: the final product (model studies and iterations addressing the problem definition or research area), a timeline outlining the process, documentation of model studies, and a presentation of the final product. For individual submissions, the documentation should be 20-35 pages, and for group submissions, it should be 25-45 pages.
• final reflection in appropriate media (written, video, poster etc.) on the design process and end product

Group size: Max 3 students

The examination result can be appealed.

No restrictions on examination resources.

All resources are permitted as long as the rules for source referencing are followed. The student is required to indicate if and how AI has been used to answer the exam.

Scale A-F.

Two internal. External examiner is used periodically