81937 - Services and Products for the Built Environment

Learning outcomes

The module is based on paradigms that align the design of the service with the need to design urban components related to living, capable of considering citizens’ participatory needs, the quality and sustainability of the intervention, and the personalized approach over standardization. By the end of the course, the student will be able to: Provide a sum of services and products for public or private use in urban contexts; Identify and materialize the process of a service related to living; Integrate cultural values into both the immaterial and material design of a service.

Course contents

The course focuses on designing products/services aimed at improving the quality and sustainability of the urban environment, built by fostering citizens' participation and considering aspects such as understanding, awareness, access, and behaviors. The course activities will begin with the analysis and understanding of the intervention context, also through the use of digital tools, followed by the definition of key challenges and problems, and then the development of appropriate response strategies, evaluating their applicability, feasibility, and scalability. From a methodological perspective, the course's outcome will be developed in progressive steps, each corresponding to the achievement of fundamental objectives. At its core, the course centers on the relationship between services, technologies, and urban communities.

Readings/Bibliography

Ascari, M. & Colitti, S. (2025). Dati, Giovani e Cultura. Il design come attivatore di nuove relazioni per le biblioteche di Bologna. Tatanka APS. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14961595

Boeri, A., Gianfrate, V., & Longo, D. (2016). Green buildings and design for adaptation: Strategies for renovation of the built environment. International Journal of Energy Production and Management, 1(2), 172–191. https://doi.org/10.2495/EQ-V1-N2-172-191

Boulanger, S. O. M., & Massari, M. (2022). Advocating Urban Transition: A Qualitative Review of Institutional and Grassroots Initiatives in Shaping Climate-Aware Cities. Sustainability, 14(5), 2701. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052701

Cairo, A. (2013). L’arte funzionale: Infografica e visualizzazione delle informazioni. Pearson Italia.

Celaschi, F. (2008). Design mediatore tra bisogni. La cultura del progetto tra arte/scienza e problemi quotidiani: L’esempio dei beni culturali. Design as mediator of needs. Design culture between art/science and everyday problems: The example of cultural heritage. In C. Germak, Uomo al centro del progetto. Design per un nuovo umanesimo. Man at the centre of the project. Design for a new humanism. (pp. 40–52). Umberto Allemandi & C.

Di Giulio, R. (Ed.). (2013). Paesaggi periferici: Strategie di rigenerazione urbana (1. ed). Quodlibet.

D’Ignazio, C., Gordon, E., & Christoforetti, E. (2019). Sensors and Civics: Towards a Community-Centered Smart City. In P. Cardullo, C. Di Feliciantonio, & R. Kitchin, Right to the Smart City (pp. 113–124). Emerald.

D'Ignazio, C. & Klein, L. (2020). Data feminism. The MIT Press

Granata, E. (2021). Placemaker. Gli inventori dei luoghi che abiteremo. Einaudi.

Formia, E., Gianfrate, V., & Vai, E. (2021). Design e mutazioni: Processi per la trasformazione continua della città = processes for the continuous transformation of the city. Bologna University Press

Formia, E., Ginocchini, G., & Ascari, M. (2021). Attivare processi di empowerment dei cittadini. I dati per leggere bisogni individuali e collettivi della società. MD JOURNAL, 11(2021), 52–61.

Gaziulusoy, İ., & Erdoğan Öztekin, E. (2019). Design for Sustainability Transitions: Origins, Attitudes and Future Directions. Sustainability, 11(13), 3601. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133601

Houston, L., Gabrys, J., & Pritchard, H. (2019). Breakdown in the Smart City: Exploring Workarounds with Urban-sensing Practices and Technologies. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 44(5), 843–870. https://doi.org/10.1177/0162243919852677

Papanek, V. (1972). Design for the real world. Thames & Hudson.

Sartori, L. (2015). Alla ricerca della smart citizenship. Istituzioni del federalismo: rivista di studi giuridici e politici, 4(2015), 927–948.

Sennett, R. (2018). Costruire e abitare. Etica per la città. Feltrinelli.

Tironi, M., Albornoz, C., & Chilet, M. (2022). Problematizing Human-Centred Design: Notes on Planet-Oriented Design. Diid - Disegno Industriale Industrial Design, 77, 38–49. https://doi.org/10.30682/diid772022c

Venturini, T., Ricci, D., Mauri, M., Kimbell, L., & Meunier, A. (2015). Designing Controversies and Their Publics. Design Issues, 31(3), 74–87. https://doi.org/10.1162/DESI_a_00340

Verdeil, É. (2020). Atlas des mondes urbains. Presses de Sciences Po.

Teaching methods

The course alternates between lectures and group-based laboratory activities designed to enhance the skills learned and the ability to develop projects. Activities such as meetings with external stakeholders and educational field trips are planned to provide additional inspiration for the project work. Regular reviews of project progress by the instructors are scheduled to assess advancements, along with collective presentations of the results achieved.

Assessment methods

The course includes intermediate reviews in seminar format to assess the progress of the project works. The exam consists of a presentation and discussion by students, organized in groups, of the projects developed during the course. The final evaluation of each student will take into account their individual contribution and the results achieved during the activities.

The assessment is based on the weighted application of the following three criteria: knowledge of theoretical content and bibliography, as well as acquisition of instrumental and methodological skills (30%); depth of the project hypothesis (30%); clarity and effectiveness in presentation (40%).

Teaching tools

The communication tools, IT resources, and technical support made available within the University of Bologna will be used.

Office hours

See the website of Margherita Ascari

See the website of Pierluigi Molteni