Media Design Research

1
Media Design Research

• Media Design Research focus area aims at
  building a productive connection between the
  research and the design practice in the field of
  new media. A strong emphasis will be placed on
  practicebased and cross disciplinary approaches.
  The focus area also aims at setting up a
  framework in which both design and research
  practices are understood as complex processes,
  involving analytical and reflective skills as
  well as creative problem solving.

2
These aims are being approached from two
directions

• 1. The  focus area will provide a variety of
  approaches and tools for strengthening the
  research basis of various research and
  development (RD) oriented projects.
• 2. The focus area will provide a critical
  context for each student's individual design
  practice. These contexts will be approached in a
  cross disciplinary manner, by engaging in
  dialogues with a variety of fields including
  cultural studies, social studies and cognitive
  sciences.

3

• Studies in this field are essentially based on
  seminar- and project work. Students are also
  encoureged to link their research with the other
  Medialab projects. Extensive work in the field of
  Media Design Research will enable students to
  take on a research based final thesis work.

4
Ethnography workshop7.-11.10.02

• The workshop aims at giving an overview of what
  is understood by ethnography and ethnographical
  methodologies with an emphasis in their
  possibilities of in applied research, especially
  RD. Basic methods, documentation needs,
  strategies and requirements for analysis are
  discussed and then applied to pre-organized
  interaction with informants. The exercise is
  jointly evaluated, and collected material is
  further used for learning purposes.
• learning outcome
• After completing the course students are expected
  to
• - understand what is meant by ethnography in
  different contexts
• - have a basic understanding of how ethnographic
  research is conducted and organized
• - be able to evaluate when information collected
  by using these methodologies is relevant for own
  work
• course language Finnish

5
Participatory Design workshop 11.-15.11.02

• This workshop aims at providing practical tools
  and basic background
• information useful to develop new media projects
  in which a variety of
• stakeholders' information, input, involvement and
  participation are
• central to successful designs. Basic methods,
  strategies and experiences will be discussed and
  applied in a short hands-on exercise with a
  predefined topic. The focus of the work will be
  on how this approach relates to research.
• learning outcome
• After completing the course students are
  expected to
• - understand the limitations and possibilities
  offered to the design process when more
  stakeholders are involved
• - be able to evaluate and reflect on these
  approach and its relevance for own work
• More info will be available during august here
  http//www.uiah.fi/abotero/pdws
• course language English

6
Modeling and design workshop13.-17.1.03

• The workshop will provide the participant with an
  overview of current modeling practices and their
  potential use in design.
• learning outcome
• The students will learn about the following
  topics
• 1. What is a model?
• 2. When is it appropriate/useful to use models?
  When is it not?
• 3. What are some interesting case studies in
  design that have involved the use of models?
• 4. How can I begin to use models in my own work?
• course language English
• Tarja Knuuttila, Lily Díaz

7
MDR publication workshop 17.-28.2.03

• The workshop aims at collecting and summarizing
  the work done in various media and design
  oriented seminars and workshops during the study
  year 2002-2003. The objective of the workshop is
  to produce an on-line publication. The
  publication will address topics defined during
  the seminars through a variety of frameworks
  provided by the Media and Design Research focus
  area.
• learning outcome
• After completing the course students are expected
  to
• - understand the process of putting together a
  research-based publication
• - understand the project management aspect of an
  on-line publication
• course language Finnish
• Heidi Tikka, Maria Koskijoki

8
HCI II

• teachers Kristiina Karvonen
• dates 31.3.-4.4.03
• content description Applied HCI description
  available in later.
• course language Finnish