Code: S1C2
ECTS: 6
Semester: 1st
This course explores the intersection of digital technologies and design thinking, equipping the students with the methodologies and frameworks needed to navigate the complexities of our increasingly digital world. It delves into how we can leverage digital tools and mindsets to solve problems, create innovative solutions, and design meaningful experiences in a technology-driven landscape.
Key themes explored will include:
- Human-Centred Design in a Digital World: Learn how to apply core design thinking principles – empathise, define, ideate, prototype, and test – within digital environments.
Digital Tools for Ideation and - Prototyping: Explore a range of digital tools and platforms used for brainstorming, visualising ideas, creating interactive prototypes, and gathering feedback in the design process.
- Agile and Lean Methodologies: Understand how agile and lean principles can be applied to digital design projects, enabling iterative development, rapid prototyping, and continuous improvement.
- Design for Emerging Technologies: Explore design considerations for emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and the Internet of Things.
- Data-Driven Design: Learn how to collect, analyse, and utilise data to inform design decisions, personalise user experiences, and measure the effectiveness of digital solutions.
- Ethical Considerations in Digital Design: Examine the ethical implications of designing for digital environments, including issues related to accessibility, privacy, security, and the responsible use of data.
Foundations of design thinking and innovation methodologies in digital contexts; human-centred, user-centred, and participatory design approaches; problem framing, needs analysis, empathy methods, and opportunity identification; ideation techniques and creative thinking methods for digital innovation; digital tools for concept development, prototyping, and iterative design; agile, lean, and iterative development approaches; data-informed design and the use of feedback and analytics in decision-making; design for emerging technologies, including AI, XR, and interactive systems; accessibility, inclusion, ethics, and sustainability in digital design processes; application of design methodologies to complex socio-technical challenges.
- Search, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology
- Adaptability to new situations
- Decision-making
- Working independently
- Team work
- Working in an interdisciplinary environment
- Production of new research ideas
- Project planning and management
- Respect for difference and multiculturalism
- Showing social, professional and ethical responsibility and sensitivity to gender issues
- Criticism and self-criticism
- Production of free, creative and inductive thinking
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
Knowledge
- explain the principles and stages of design thinking and related human-centred innovation methodologies;
- describe the role of digital tools and data-informed processes in contemporary design practice;
- discuss methodological issues related to designing for emerging technologies and complex socio-technical systems.
Skills
- apply design thinking methods to identify needs, frame problems, generate ideas, and develop prototypes;
- use appropriate digital tools for ideation, prototyping, collaborative design, and user-oriented evaluation;
- interpret user, contextual, and behavioural data in order to support design decisions.
Competences
- develop coherent design approaches for complex digital challenges by combining analytical and creative thinking;
- justify methodological choices in the development of digital products, services, and experiences;
- critically reflect on ethical, social, and accessibility issues in digital design processes.
