The 2nd year Design Studio III is a laboratory course, the main objective of which is to introduce students to creative, methodological and practical steps towards an understanding of the processes of collaborative designing at the early stages of Ideation. The purpose of the course is to improve students’ skills through a cooperative process in order to establish the basic concepts of design with an emphasis on evidence-based methodology for the representation of ideas in 2D and 3D space with analog and digital tools. This is carried out through the analysis, and methodological investigation of design contexts. The application of the basic design knowledge acquired in the first year (Drawing, Drawing for Design, Design Methodologies, Systems Theory) is very important.
The strengthening of knowledge and decision-making processes in technical and aesthetic matters, are among the fundamental aims of the course. These are achieved by educating students to the basic concepts of requirements development and their implementation into design drawings for representing the design objectives. The design processes are explored both as creative and analytical methods as well as streamlined practices for the investigation of the structure of the form of the artifact, the process of developing the compositions, the importance of the dynamics of the standard morphology and finally the practice of handling materials.
The main objective of the course is the development of skills for the representation of ideas in the three-dimensional space by the selective use of basic conceptual tools (lines, surfaces, volumes, colors, etc.). Design concepts are required to be represented by the use of traditional and digital tools, which will be explored through the various exercises in the laboratory (traditional and digitized). The project work is not aimed at the production of a final usable product but --under the given objectives-- on the design documentation and presentation of a prototype, which satisfies the requirements. The design process requires training in different tools (traditional and digital) for representing concepts. The investigation of the design issues is implemented by different practices such as, traditional/digitized drawing technics, 3D modeling, the use of design computer software, animation, photography, etc.
The course includes presentations of project topics, lectures mainly related to the understanding of the design space and the impact that new media have on its perception. The interim lectures aimed at a theoretical justification of the design activities. These are supplemented by practical laboratory exercises which are supportive in the process of learning to design.
Design Studio III focuses on the integration of parts of the design theory (creative tools/techniques, design methodologies, theoretical tools/methods), and the usage of traditional and new media in creating new products. The course is intended to provide the following benefits:
- Understand what is Ideation through the use of creative tools/techniques and methodologies
- Enhance team working skills for collaborative design.
- Competence with a set of tools and methods for product design and development.
- Awareness of the role of multiple functions in creating a new product
- Reinforcement of student’s abilities to manage multiple materials and digital tools through the design process.
- Reinforcement of knowledge from other courses.
- Students will enhance the ability to present and defend their own design ideas.
- Students will enhance the ability to work in interdisciplinary environments.
- Enhance students’ ability to adapt in complex ill-defined design problems.
(Eudoxus repository):
- Ulrich K., Eppinger S. (2015). Σχεδιασμός και Ανάπτυξη Προϊόντων (ISBN: 978-960-418-489-7)
- Cross, N. (2006). Designerly Ways of Knowing. London, England: Springer. (ISBN: 9781846283017)
- Κ Μπάϊλας, Π Βογιατζιδάκης (2015). Εισαγωγή στην παραμετρική σχεδίαση (ISBN: 978-618-5163-09-9)
(Other):
- Jones, J. C. (1992). Design Methods (2nd ed.). USA: John Wiley and Sons.
- Norman, D. A. (2013). The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition (Revised Edition edition). New York, New York: Basic Books.
- Related academic journals:
- Design Issues
- Design Studies
- International Journal of Art & Design Education
- The Design Journal
- International Journal of Design