Courses Detail Information
CUL2540J – Culture, Society, the Problem of Design
Instructors:
Credits:
3 credits
Pre-requisites:
No pre-requisite
Description:
The trend of design thinking since the 20th century has been recognized as a “new liberal art of technological culture” (from “The Wicked Problems in Design Thinking” by Richard Buchanan). This course introduces students to questions concerning “what is design” as well as distinct fields of design problems involving symbols, objects, interaction, and systems. We focus on “human-centered design” as a design philosophy in particular. In a global cultural environment where predictions about the “future” abound, we ask what “human-centered design” is and how it functions as a critical concept in discussions on topics ranging from social innovation to digital technologies.
Course Topics:
1. Historical tensions between the sciences and the humanities
2. “Human factors” in a “technological culture” (both to be defined)
3. The “wicked problems” theory of design
4. Product as an expression of value
5. Intended product value vs. product value in use