Cursos / 1º Ciclo / Faculty of Architecture and Arts :: Design

TEORIA DO DESIGN - 2017/2018

2º curricular year
Semestralidade: 1st semester
ECTS: 2

Teachers

Leading Teacher: Prof. Doutor Rui Alexandre
Assistant Professor: Prof. Doutor Rui Alexandre

Class type and School hours

Teórica : 2 Horas

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Main Aims/Objectives

Design in its broadest sense means combining elements to shape values. Reflecting on these values, theory gives its contribution to practice. In this sense, the main objective of the curricular unit of Design Theory is to assume it as a transdisciplinary discipline that generates tools for a better understanding and sustentation of the student / designer project process and activity.

Specific Aims/Objectives

- Deepen different ways of thinking about design;
- Encourage reflection on key design issues;
- Develop reference models of critical and creative thinking;
- Enrich the technical and critical vocabulary specific to the design;
- Encourage the theoretical-scientific work of design.

Skills to be acquired

- Present different tools for solving design problems;
- Mastering dualism in design;
- Fluency in oral and written design discourse through technical and critical vocabulary;
- Manifest design as permanent restlessness that follows the needs of society, materializing identity in its spatio-temporal moment.

Teaching Procedures

Exposure and explanation of programmatic content; classroom discussions; and, critical works (individual and collective) related to the topics covered.

Programme

Introduction
- relation between theory and practice of design: dualism in design
- positioning of design theory and historical perspective
- the complexity of the current world in the information age

I. Nature of design
- design: definitions and classifications;
- artistic design VS systemic design;
- new perspectives and limits;

II. Design process
- classical methodology;
- method limits;
- "problem" as the basis of design;
- comparison of design paradigms such as: problem solving process VS reflexive practice
- creativity;

III. "Design Thinking": cognitive process of the designer
- Is the designer creative?
- Thinking about the design process;
- mental blocks;
- reason and emotion;
- intuition and creativity;
- techniques for stimulating creative thinking;

IV. Meanings of the artificial world (material and immaterial)
- "sense" of design;
- complexity of the material world;
- brand power;
- myths in the design

V. Role of design in the socio-cultural context
- design as a cultural manifestation;
- design and ethics: consumerism vs citizenship;
- design studies - discipline of the 21st century

Evaluation Type

The evaluation will be carried out according to the General Evaluation Regulation of the Universidade Lusíada. The criteria for continuous assessment include: a) attendance and participation in classes; b) individual and / or group exercises proposed in the class and their discussion; c) written tests of knowledge assessment; and, d) the Frequency Test.

Teaching Resources

Exhibition classes;
Individual and / or group work on the thematic modules taught for presentation and debate.
Study visits (if they fit into the topics covered);
Analysis and research of texts and images;
Individual and / or group work.

Sustainability Objectives

Keywords

Theory; Dualism; Creative Thinking, Sense, Society.

Main Bibliography

Complementary Bibliography