MF2114 Design for Sustainability 3.0 credits
This course aims at preparing future industrial design engineers to be able to contribute to sustainability transitions. As such, the course objectives are to advance students’ competencies in eight different areas. As identified by UNESCO (2017), competencies that are crucial for advancing sustainable development include systems thinking competency, anticipatory competency, normative competency, strategic competency, collaboration competency, critical thinking competency, self-awareness competency and integrated problem-solving competency. This course aims at strengthening these competencies through supporting development of connected abilities by actions, experiences and reflections. Therefore, to learn sustainable design engineering, the course is based around a design project where different design methods are applied, and sustainability complexities are concretized. The course aims at supporting development of an overview of the many different approaches available for sustainable design and deepen knowledge in one of the design approaches by trying it out in the design project work. Thereby, while conducting the design project, actions will be required throughout as various design decisions will have to be made. Moreover, experiences from these actions will arise and discussed, and reflection-in-action will be required to complete the hand-in assignment that runs parallel to the design project.
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Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
The course Design for sustainability covers different methods for design in development of technical systems that are relevant for engineers of Design and Product Realisation to use professionally, to engage in sustainability adaptation. By correlating sustainability concepts to the design and product realisation process with systems focus, the course aims to contribute to creating overview and understanding of how design in various ways can be used in sustainability adaptation of industrial systems. With a focus on the development of technical systems, the course intends to create understanding of how design in an intentional way can influence relations between people and technology, thereby contributing to sustainability adaptation. Furthermore, the course promotes learning through making and in work with a design project different design methods are used and tested to make complexity in sustainability concrete.
- The course focuses on development of technical systems and includes lectures and exercises that cover different methods for how design can contribute to sustainability adaptation.
- The course includes a group-based design project, where proposals for sustainability adaptation of technical systems are developed. The design project is a hands-on activity, that requires attendance and active commitment of the students, including interaction with the teachers through supervision.
- The course includes written assignments that contribute to visualise tacit knowledge and promote critical review and reflection.
Intended learning outcomes
After passing the course, the students should be able to:
- Describe and evaluate different possible methods for design, to contribute to sustainability change of industrial systems.
- Use relevant design methods to develop ideas for technical systems.
- Critically review design of products and systems in relation to sustainability.
Course disposition
Literature and preparations
Specific prerequisites
The students should have completed and received a Pass grade in:
MF1061 Introduction to Design and Product Realisation (or MF1018 Industrial Design Prop),
MF1062 Design and Product Realisation, and
MF1040 Design and Product Realisation Methodology, or the equivalent knowledge in design.
Recommended prerequisites
Equipment
Literature
Examination and completion
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
Grading scale
Examination
- DPR1 - Design Project Assignment, 1.5 credits, grading scale: P, F
- INL1 - Hand in assignment, 1.5 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
Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination
Examiner
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 web
Further information about the course can be found on the Course web at the link below. Information on the Course web will later be moved to this site.
Course web MF2114