About This Course

This course teaches advanced theory of interaction design, specifically as related to dialogue, discourse, semantics, experience, and communication. Students will explore discourse related to the philosophical and sociological aspects of technology, and will relate this discourse to issues of wicked problems in society and culture.


Core Concepts and Ideas

This class emphasizes the following main ideas, themes, and concepts:

  • Aesthetics, related to the visual, temporal, and cultural qualities of design solutions
  • Poetics and rhetoric, including the role of design in shaping both culture and behavior
  • Semantics and the subtle qualities of form in non-physical product, service or system design

Reading List
Outcomes and Competencies

The following outcome statements articulate the competencies, abilities, and skills a student will have as a result of completing this class. Students will...

  • Be able to describe complicated issues of design theory as related to design practice, and understand how theory has a role in actual design
  • Understand the historical underpinnings of the methods and processes used in design
  • Understand how to ground design decisions in a historical, philosophical context

Course Schedule

Section 1: History and Precedent in Interaction, Technology, and Experience
Present the role of technology in the world, and argue its importance.

Class Topic In Class Readings for this Section
1/9

Introduction

Interaction & GUI History

Understanding This Course

Discussion of Computers and Computing

[1A] Marsden – People are People
[1A] Mann – Continuous Lifelong Capture of Personal Experience
[1A] Sterling – Design Fiction
[1B] Dourish – What We Talk About When We Talk About Context
[1B] Bell – Making by Making Strange
[1C] Boehner – Affect & Emotion
[1C] Forlizzi – Understanding Experience
[1C] Sanders – Scaffolds for Experiencing

1/11 Technology Discussion of Readings [1A]
1/16 Context Discussion of Readings [1B]
1/18 Experience and Emotion Discussion of Readings [1C]
1/23 Presentation of Position Artifact  

Section 2: Creativity, Strategy, Design
Describe the relationship between creativity, knowledge, and strategy.

Class Topic In Class Readings for this Section
1/23

Creativity

Discussion of Readings [2A]

[2A] Cross – Discovering Design Ability
[2A] deBono – Serious Creativity
[2A] Schon – Problems, Frames & Perspectives
[2B] Hamal – Strategic Intent
[2B] Stemersch – Strategic Bundling
[2B] Martin – Management Education
[2C] Weick – Organizing and Process of Sensemaking
[2C] Peirce – The Three Cotary Propositions

1/25 Intel Visit  
1/30 IxDA in Dublin  
2/1 IxDA in Dublin  
2/6

Design Strategy

 Discussion of Readings [2B]
2/8

Sensemaking

 Discussion of Readings [2C]
2/13 Presentation of Position Artifact  

Section 3: Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship
Describe and define social entrepreneurship.

Class Topic In Class Readings for this Section
2/13 Social Innovation Discussion of Readings [3A]

[3A] Wyatt – Design Thinking
[3A] Martin – Social Entrepreneurship
[3B] Rittel – Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning
[3B] Karnani – Fortune at the Base of the Pyramid: A Mirage
[3B] Prahalad – Selling to the Poor
[3C] Spears – Economic Decision Making In Poverty
[3C] LeDantec – Designs on Dignity
[3C] Baumol – Entrepreneurship: Productive, Unproductive, Destructive
[3D] Yunis – Building Social Businss Models
[3D] Dees – The Meaning of Social Entrepreneurship
2/15 Bottom of the Pyramid Discussion of Readings [3B]
2/20 Poverty Discussion of Readings [3C]
2/22 Business Models Discussion of Readings [3D]
2/27 Work in Class  
2/29 Presentation of Position Artifact