73481 - Product Development Processes (A-K)

Learning outcomes

By the end of this module, the students will have developed a high level of skill in the conceptualization, formalization, representation, and communication of the design outcome, across all phases of the process. They will be able to adopt a critical and informed approach to pre-design research. The students will be capable of conducting and monitoring the concept generation process, also through the exploration of methods and tools applicable to individual or group design activities. They will possess competencies related to the technical design and production development phases, including the creation of appropriate graphic tools, 3D models, and/or functional prototypes. Finally, the students will be able to develop a comprehensive project of the narrative process for the conceived product-system.

Course contents

Within the Laboratorio di Sintesi Finale, the Course PROGETTO DEL PRODOTTO aims, on the one hand, to encourage critical reflection on the methods and tools of design research, and on the other, to revisit the areas of interest of contemporary design by introducing students to topical issues that intersect design practice as a subject of scientific inquiry.

Objectives: this Course is one of the three components of the Laboratorio di Sintesi Finale and it is structured around two specific activities related to the meta-design phase and the transition towards the final stage of the academic path (Phase 1 and Phase 2). These activities, developed in close synergy with the contents of the Disegno Industriale T course, are intended to support students in both defining their final exam project and initiating the thesis project.

Articulation: The course is structured in two main phases. The first Phase (September-October) focuses, through lectures and practical exercises, on design methods and tools with particular attention to scenario building, a methodology typical of Advanced Design. This approach will also be applied in parallel within the of Disegno Industriale T course.The key topics covered include:    

• Innovation and research: contemporary perspectives
• Design methods: osservation, model building, manipolation of models, evaluation, transformation of reality
• Advanced Design. anticipation, trasformativity, change
• Scenario building, history, approaches,case studies

The second Phase (from October 2024 onward) is aimed at supporting students in orienting themselves towards their final thesis. The main topics will include:

• Research for the project: nature, methods, characteristics
• Researche tools and techniques
• Approaching the final thesis project  

In parallel, a path of accompainment and development of the product-service system (in every stage typical pf the design project and already known by students) will be structured, in collaboration with the course of Disegno Industriale T.

In parallel, students will undertake a design development pathway focused on the product-service system to be developed as result of the Laboratorio, covering all the phases typical of a design project (already familiar to the students), in collaboration with the Disegno Industriale T course.

The Outcomes of both phases will be consolidated and presented during the final exam.

Readings/Bibliography

The professor will provide, during lectures and review sessions, specific references to texts, websites, journals, magazines, and other documents to support the in-depth study of the topics covered.
Additional bibliographic references may be suggested as needed throughout the course, in response to the evolving educational path.

Suggested texts (to be updated before and during the course period, September–December 2025):

• Celaschi, F. (2000). Il design della forma merce. Il sole 24 ore edizioni
• Celaschi, F., & Deserti, A. (2007). Design e Innovazione. Carocci
• Celaschi, F. (2017). Non industrial design. Luca Sossella
• Celi M. (Ed.). (2015). Advanced Design Cultures. Springer
• Formia, E. (2017). Storie di Futuri e Design. Maggioli
• Formia, E., Gianfrate, V., & Vai, E. (2021). Design e Mutazioni. BUP
• Formia, E., Gianfrate V., & Succini, L. (2023). Design per l'innovazione responsabile. Franco Angeli.

Teaching methods

During the development of the course students will be offered lectures lasting about 1-2 hours each, held by the professors and/or by any guests.

The exercises are aimed at the immediate application of the theoretical content and must be submitted during the course as specific phases of the final project.

The revisions of students' work with professors of the Laboratorio di Sintesi finale are part of the Course.

In addition, forms of peer-to-peer assessment among students will be encouraged.

Attendance is compulsory. It is surveyed by the teachers in class and students absent in more than 30% of the lessons will not be admitted to the final evaluation.

Assessment methods

Presentation and discussion of the final outputs foreseen for all the modules of the integrated Course (final presentation of the works during the final exam).

Each of the results in the teaching modules will be evaluated. The criteria will be communicated by the Professors of the didactic modules the firs day of class. The various evaluations will form an overall final judgment of each student (in part, the result of collective work and, in part, of individual work).

The evaluation criteria will also include:

- Topicality, originality, consistency with design, of the proposal
- Quality of the presentation and argumentation
- Active participation in the role of commentator.

Teaching tools

VIRTUALE: teacher-student communications; loading teaching materials; student material deliveries; forum with students/community

MS TEAMS: virtual classroom

MIRO: for brainstorming and other forms of shared planning

Presentations/slideshows

Collaboration with external structures (labs, libraries, etc.)

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

Office hours

See the website of Elena Maria Formia