73481 - Product Development Processes (L-Z)

Learning outcomes

At the end of these modules, the student achieves a high level of ability to formalise and represent the design result he/she has developed, both by creating adequate graphic instruments for the technical description of the product, and through the creation of three-dimensional models and possibly working prototypes. They are also able to develop an adequate project for the narrative and communicative process of the product.

Course contents

Within the Final Synthesis Laboratory, the Course will recall the processes and methods of contemporary design by introducing to the students' attention some particularly topical themes that cross the design act as a subject of scientific study, and, on the other hand, it will introduce a critical reflection on processes, methods and tools of design research.

In this context, an internal module of the LSF comes into play, which is intended to address, with the tools of critical design, the theme of finding interesting, topical problems within the reach of contemporary design among the thousands of themes that can be identified around us.

The two components are respectively held by Prof. Flaviano Celaschi (Module 1) and Prof. Valentina Gianfrate (Module 2).

Main contents Module 1:

The training module is an integral part of the training process of the Final Synthesis Workshop and accompanies students in improving their ability to identify interesting and topical topics towards which to direct their personal thesis or professional research. Furthermore, the module exercises the ability to professionally present one's topics using public speaking strategies, professional tools and ways of engaging the target audience.

The structure of the module, which is identical for section A-K as for section L-Z, requires the students in groups of 2 (self-formed) to choose, in accordance with the criteria given by the lecturer, a topic on which to practise constructing a small public lecture or public presentation meeting of modest duration.
Therefore in the first part of the programme we will devote attention to choosing interesting topics while in the second part we will put our professional presentation skills to work. The module envisages that all students produce a professional self video presentation of the topic validated by the lecturer, the products will then be commented on in the classroom and self-assessed by the students themselves.
The module consists of 10 lessons each lasting approximately 3.5 hours.
Precise references and the organisation of the module will be given at the start of the course.

Key contents Module 2: The service system around the product
The module aims to integrate thinking around the product with a human-centric approach, taking into account the impacts of what is designed. In particular, the following will be addressed
Innovation and research: sustainability, accessibility and responsibility
Tools for desk and direct research and use of sources
Thesis preparation

Readings/Bibliography

In their lectures and revision sessions, lecturers will provide precise references to texts, websites, journals and documents available for further study of the topics presented. Bibliographic indications may also be added for further study during the course of the course.

Suggested texts (in the process of being updated before the start of teaching):
Celaschi, F. Il design della forma merce, Il sole 24 ore edizioni, Milano 2000
Celaschi, F., Deserti, A., Design and Innovation, Carocci, Rome 2007
Celaschi, F., Non industrial design, Luca Sossella, Milan 2017

Laura Succini, Margherita Ascari, Elena Formia, Valentina Gianfrate, Michele Zannoni, Design for Responsible Innovation. Social Impacts of Products and Services [https://cris.unibo.it/handle/11585/844493], «PAD», 2021, 14

Gianfrate, Valentina; Aragall, Francesc; Antonucci, Micaela, Design for People Autonomy [https://cris.unibo.it/handle/11585/819013], «EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CREATIVE PRACTICES IN CITIES AND LANDSCAPES», 2020

Teaching methods

During the development of the course, students will be offered lectures/lessons of about 1-2 hours each, held by the lecturers or by possible guests.

Any exercises will aim at the immediate application of the contents of the theoretical part.

The course also includes the revision of the work shared with the entire teaching staff of the Final Synthesis Laboratory, for the characteristics of which please refer to the general description of the course.

Attendance is compulsory. Attendance is recorded by the lecturers during the lessons and students absent from more than 30% of the lessons will not be admitted to the final assessment.

Assessment methods

Presentation and discussion of the final elaborations for all modules of the integrated course (final exhibition of work). Each of the results obtained in the individual teaching modules will be assessed. The criteria will be communicated by the lecturers responsible for the teaching modules. The various assessments will form the overall final judgement of each student (partly the result of collective work and partly of individual work).

Teaching tools

IOL: teacher-student communication; uploading of teaching materials; delivery of student materials; forum with students/community

TEAMS: virtual classroom

MIRO: for brainstorming and other forms of shared planning;

Presentations/slideshows;

Collaboration with external facilities (Model Laboratory, Photo Laboratory, libraries, etc.);

Participation in conferences, talks, exhibitions and/or educational visits.

Office hours

See the website of Valentina Gianfrate

See the website of Flaviano Celaschi