Design of Interactive and Industrial Products and Systems
The MSc on the Design of Industrial and Interactive Products and Systems draws on a wide range of disciplines. The course introduces students to the holistic design of products and systems for which the computer is ‘invisible’ and ‘ubiquitous’. The course aims at the training of professionals who will use creatively the technology, scientific methods and the arts to design usable and functional products and systems in the emerging information society.
The MSc course is addressed to a wide variety of design students and professionals: all those who find that design thinking is necessary for the successful addressing of new situations. The course is therefore a transformation course that is addressed to graduates from a variety of disciplines related to design and enhances their skills with a methodological and human-centred perspective required to address complex design problems. The essential characteristics of the course emphasize cross-disciplinarity, human-centred thinking, holistic and methodological design process.
Course Programme
1st semester
- Design Theory and Methodology
- Industrial and Interactive product design studio
- Computer-Aided Design – CAD
- Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
- Introduction to Informatics and to Design Environments for the Web and Digital Media
- Applied Mathematics
2nd semester
- Ergonomics and design for all
- Interaction Design Studio
- Computer-Aided Design and Engineering
- Mechanics and Materials in Design
- Advanced User Interfaces
3rd semester
Courses
1st semester
Design Theory and Methodology
The course introduces students to issues of design theory and methodology with the aim is to create awareness about the perspectives of systemic thinking and human-centered practice. The course combines and applies various methods for design inquiry, idea formulation, product development and evaluation regarding the design of products and systems as well as the design process itself.
Industrial and Interactive product design studio
The course focuses on the application of the design process from initial conception to the final physical product. Students are required to investigate human experiences, identify problems with accuracy, analyze and propose solutions. This is accomplished by the development of a specific project. The main directions of the course include:
- How to analyze products and the experiences containing them. (research, market analysis and evaluation, contextual analysis etc.).
- How to compose a correct brief (Identification of the problem to be resolved, design guidelines).
- Product Development (ideation & concept generation).
- Product finalization (detailed solutions, CAD, technical drawings, prototyping)
- Final presentation.
During the course, the design of physical products is characterized by the rational gathering of information so as to build a body of knowledge that will later be used to identify and designate functional and aesthetic requirements.
Computer-Aided Design - CAD
This course deals with technological and theoretical aspects of Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Course Description:
- Introduction to the computer aided design/manufacture/engineer programs and platforms (Computer-Aided Design/Engineering/Manufacturing – CAD/CAE/CAM).
- 3D geometric modeling: computer-based object representation, projections and transformations. Fundamental descriptions of curves, surfaces, and solids.
- Design exercises using commercial and academic CAD platforms.
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is concerned with the design, development and evaluation of interactive products and systems that effectively support humans in everyday activities, and the study of relevant phenomena that stem out of the interaction process. The course aims to:
- Create student awareness regarding basic issues such as: cognitive and organizational approaches for understanding the role of the human during interaction, usability, utility, accessibility, aesthetics and user experience.
- Discuss and apply methods and methodologies for design of interactive systems, such as “contextual design” and “the elements of user experience” through case studies and hands-on exercises.
- Discuss and apply methods for evaluation of interactive systems and products with emphasis on user testing and usability inspections, as well as significant issues for usability engineering.
Introduction to Informatics and to Design Environments for the Web and Digital Media
The aim of the course is to provide an introduction to basic concepts of informatics and then to discuss principles for design and development of interactive systems for the Web and digital media with the use of software environments. The basic aspects of the course include:
- Introduction to informatics: hardware, software, networking, concepts of algorithms and programming.
- Discussion of design and development principles of interactive systems for the Web, with the use of software environments
- Discussion of design and development principles of interactive systems for digital media, with the use of software environments
Applied Mathematics
The main aim of the course is students’ acquaintance with a symbolic calculus program and its application to problem solving. It contains a revision of some fundamental mathematical notions from calculus and geometry, such as: derivative; integral; vectors; derivatives of functions of several variables; lines, curves, and surfaces in 3-D space; elements of Linear Algebra. Theory is complemented by practice, using Mathematica. The course is offered for 2 hours per week for a selected group of students.
2nd semester
Ergonomics and design for all
Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. The course is an introduction to the physical aspects of ergonomics. Material presented covers anthropometric principles in workspace and equipment design, workspace design, bio-mechanics, work physiology, and environmental factors affecting work environment. Design for all presents principles, international recommendations, and design guidelines for Design for All. Thematic units deal with Information and Communication Technologies, in particular accessible content, accessible input and output for information systems, new paradigms of interaction, principles and examples of accessible interaction between man and machine, as well as methods and techniques for design of accessible of human centred systems.
Interaction Design Studio
Interaction design studio is concerned with the study of communication between humans and interactive products and systems. The emphasis is on the creative and collaborative design of interactive systems, invention and selection of dialogues, interactions, interfaces and content of interactive products and systems of any kind, including mobile, domestic and medical devices, as well as for the Web and digital media. The course emphasizes the conduction of an interaction design project, such as: a digital media application or a web application. The design process starts with requirements and market research and ends up with the evaluation of interactive prototypes with the participation of users.
Computer-Aided Design and Engineering
This course introduces the student to the theoretical aspects and the modern technology of Computer-Aided Design and Engineering CAD/CAE. Contents:
- Surface design: Fundamental models of parametric surfaces, Bezier and B-spline surfaces, Coons patches.
- Solid modeling: Constructive solid geometry (CSG) models, Boundary representation models (B-rep), hybrid models of solids and surfaces.
- Rapid prototyping: Basic technologies and lab exercises.
- Fundamental concepts of Mechanics: Analysis of structures, forces, strains, and displacement. Introduction to the Finite Elements Method (FEM). Computer aided product analysis.
- Introduction to the methods of Computational Mechanics / CAE (finite elements method), theoretical basis of finite elements, complex loading, failure criteria and design methodologies, simplifications, element types, meshing, material properties, loading and boundary conditions, post-processing the results, structural optimization.
- Design case studies using commercial and academic CAE platforms.
Mechanics and Materials in Design
The course aims to develop a systematic procedure for selecting materials and processes, leading to the subset which best matches the design requirements. The approach emphasizes design with materials rather than materials science, although the underlying science is used to form the criteria for selection. The material is mostly subject to mechanical stress, and a preliminary review of mechanics fundamentals is presented. Course content: Basic mechanics – Force, Moment, Equilibrium; Common Stress States – Tension, Bending, Torsion, Buckling; Normal and Shear Stresses and Strains, Hooke’s Law; Engineering Materials and their Properties; Materials Selection; Processes and Process Selection; Multiple Constraints and Objectives; Selection of Material and Shape; Hybrid Materials; Materials and the Environment; Materials and Industrial Design.
Advanced User Interfaces
Traditional user interfaces are based on the keyboard, mouse and computer screen and they presuppose the use and applications of the computer in an office work setting. Also, they generally do not allow for adaptation to particular user requirements (physical or mental). The course makes an extensive introduction to issues of design, development and evaluation of non-traditional, advanced user interfaces. The aims of the course include the raising of awareness about new user interactions with (new forms of) computers, the review of contemporary applications of advanced user interfaces and the experimentation with design and prototype development. In particular, the course will discuss issues related to: Haptic UIs, Tangible UIs, Multitouch UIs, Augmented Reality Systems, Physical Interaction: Gaze interaction, speech-based interaction, gesture-based interaction, and Personalised-Adaptive User Interfaces.
3rd semester
MSc Thesis
As a prerequisite for obtaining the MSc degree, students need to undertake and successfully complete a their master thesis. The thesis includes research, analysis and synthesis and provides an opportunity for students to combine knowledge stemming from the various disciplines taught throughout their studies while linking such knowledge to the students’ professional interests. It may take the form of a theoretical analysis or empirical research and development. Students are required to select the object of the thesis during the second semester and start to carry out their research during the summer. In the beginning of the third semester, students make an intermediate presentation of their thesis emphasising on the current state of the art, the objectives and the method to be employed.
Τρίτη, 31 Ιανουαρίου 2012, forky