Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2016 - IAT 481 D100

Special Topics in Interactive Arts and Technology (Science) (3)

Business of Design I

Class Number: 8835

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 6 – Dec 5, 2016: Thu, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
    Surrey

  • Prerequisites:

    69 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Specific details of courses to be offered will be published prior to enrolment each term. Variable units: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.

COURSE DETAILS:

Combines the disciplines of design and business so that students learn how design and business are joined and interdependent.  The course works by doing.  Students undertake rich, tough design problems and learn the theory and practice of business and design through generating multiple design solutions.  Learning is active and multi-disciplinary.  The course comprises a four hour meeting each week and a mandatory weekend retreat on 9-10 September.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Students will be able to:

  1. Develop a design brief by listening to stakeholder views, researching precedents and the current state of design and by interpreting information into a comprehensive brief.
  2. Understand the social construction of the concept of sustainability and its key objective drivers.
  3. Produce designs in response to a brief through an iterative process of sketching, prototyping and analysis.
  4. Refine a design brief throughout the design process.
  5. Understand how design and sustainability can be used to structure a business.
  6. Understand how personal aptitudes, strengths and weakness contribute to a team’s success.
  7. Continuously negotiate, agree on and carry out team roles and responsibilities throughout a project.
  8. Build presentations appropriate to key stakeholders in a design-led business.

Grading

  • Lab assignments & homework 40%%
  • First review 10%%
  • Two interim reviews 20%%
  • Final project 30%%

NOTES:

Outline:
This is a tentative outline.  Changes in content may need to be made to accommodate the schedule:
Week 1 - Design and product development overview
Week 2 - Sustainability: what does it mean? How do we (society) construct it?
Week 3 - Team dynamics  
Week 4 - Taking and doing:  how to combine active listening and designing
Week 5 - The design brief:  a multi-faceted, changing document
Week 6 - The business of design
Week 7 - Putting it all together:  first project presentations
Week 8 - Prototyping: from low- to high-fidelity; from designing to refining
Week 9 - What people do:  culture, attitudes and behavior and how to address these
Week 10 - Project reviews
Week 11 - Positioning products in the world
Week 12 - Project reviews
Week 13 - Final project presentations  

Course Policies:
Assignments are due at the start of the class session (unless otherwise stated).  Assignments handed in after this, but within 24 hours will be marked but a 50% penalty will be applied.  Assignments will not be accepted after this (mark will be zero).  

All students are responsible for printing the lab assignment for that week.  No printed handouts will be available from instructors.  All lab documents will be available electronically via the course website.  

Students will need to bring with them to every class and lab:

  • Pencils and an eraser.
  • A pen.
  • Both plain and sketching (grid and isometric) paper.
  • Some labs will require simple modeling tools: e.g. X-acto knife or similar, masking tape, scissors, and steel-backed ruler.
Attitudes that will help you succeed:
  • Be prepared to try.
  • Be willing to be wrong.
  • Be present, active and engaged.
  • Be prepared to take on unfamiliar roles and responsibilities.
  • Collaborate with your peers.
  • Learn how you best work in and support a project team.
  • Produce your own work and support others on theirs.
  • Think laterally, focus on quality.
  • Be willing to learn the elements of another discipline.
  • Invent and deliver new strategies, designs and products.
Class & Lab Etiquette:
The following are expected:
  1. That you attend every lecture and lab throughout the semester.
  2. That you arrive for class and lab on time.
  3. During class and lab periods:  that you refrain from disruptive behavior such as holding side conversations and using laptops to surf the web or check e-mail.
  4. Use of cellular phones, iPods, and PDAs is not permitted during lecture and lab. Students seen using any of these may be asked to leave the room for the balance of the lecture or lab.
You will be asked to leave the class for serious breaches of this policy.

REQUIREMENTS:

A $70 fee will be collected at SIAT.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

None.

The course will require access to SIAT's SolidSpace workshop.

REQUIRED READING:

Readings will be assigned each week.  These will, largely, be available online.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS