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MF2112 Advanced Product Design 12.0 credits

Administer About course

This course is a combination of four course elements, all tied together by an overarching design project. Each student will in the end make an individual design of a product, but this design will be informed by several other investigations made in groups of various constellations. The four course elements are; 1) Human Centred Design, 2) Research Seminars, 3) Branding and 4) Individual Design Project.

The product design project are different each year,  we alternate between children products, carpenting tools, cooking equipment and gardening tools. An extra dimension is given by the products being provided as a service instead of individually owned products. 

In the human centred design module you will make a deep investigation of the usability aspects of the product, as well as the context of use. In the brand module you will go deep into your brand to understand the DNA of the brand and create a brand platform that will guide you in the individual design work.

 

Choose semester and course offering

Choose semester and course offering to see current information and more about the course, such as course syllabus, study period, and application information.

Application

For course offering

Spring 2025 Start 14 Jan 2025 programme students

Application code

60766

Headings with content from the Course syllabus MF2112 (Spring 2024–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

The course is mainly directed towards training of different skills in product design.
The content revolves around an individual design project where the background studies are carried out in groups. In the project, the different parts should then be balanced and shaped to a whole.
The sustainability aspect is included, as the product is designed to function in a product-service system in a circular economy.
Within the course, current research in the field of industrial design and .......is discussed in seminars.

In the first item of the course, different methods and tools in HCD i.e user-centred design are trained. Here, the user's needs are investigated, regarding ergonomics, handling and functionality, through several different supplementary methods.
The next item deal with the importance of the trademark, strategies around development of trademarks and how it influences the design of products and services.
In the final item, the parts are put together in to a project where a product is designed and visualised with regard to both the user studies and the trademark development.

The course is carried out in project form, which is a practical item that requires attendance and active commitment of the students and including interaction with the teachers through supervision.

Intended learning outcomes

After passing the course, the students should be able to:

  1. Plan and carry out a study in Human Centered Design (HCD), analyse the result and create understanding that is relevant for the design of products and services.
  2. Describe and reflect on current theories, methods and procedures in HCD, branding and design research and relate these to the course designproject.
  3. Analyse a trademark and develop a Product Design Guidelines intended to support the design of products and services.
  4. Design a product cocept that demonstrates a well balanced balance between understanding from Human Centered Design application of Product Design Guidelines and consideration to sustainable development.
  5. Relate to the advantages and the challenges with circular economy and in a creative way apply these in a system of products and services.

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

MF2038 Service Design or the equivalent.

Recommended prerequisites

No information inserted

Equipment

No information inserted

Literature

"Research Methods for Product Design", Alex Milton & Paul Rogers

"The Brand Gap", Marty Neumeier

Research articles

Examination and completion

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

  • INLA - Hand-in assignments, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
  • INLB - Hand-in assignments, 2.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
  • PRO1 - Project, 4.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
  • PRO2 - Project, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

No information inserted

Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

No information inserted

Examiner

Profile picture Sara Ilstedt

Profile picture Gunilla Ölundh Sandström

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.

Offered by

ITM/Machine Design

Main field of study

Mechanical Engineering

Education cycle

Second cycle

Add-on studies

No information inserted