Using a drill press, London & North Eastern Railway’s Doncaster Works, 14th August 1943. Used under Creative Commons licence. © National Railway Museum and SSPL

Design Studies in Practice

Design Studies is, broadly, the study of:

the different ways in which design has been characterized and practiced, the contexts and systems in which designs operates, and the responsibilities that come with the power of designing (link)

That’s a very broad definition, and when “design studies” is discussed by academic researchers, their interpretation ranges from design history, to examination of design’s interrelation with other subjects, to philosophical treatments of design (much as Ahmed’s section of the course approaches the subject) to ethnographic study of how design teams work, to science and technology studies. All of these are parts of the field, but generally what is not included in design studies are the skills themselves which designers use. Studying design studies is not, generally, “learning how to design” in the sense of how to use a particular tool, but it may well (and should) have an influence on how you think as a designer, how you make decisions, and how you understand your work in context. Carnegie Mellon has, traditionally, been one of the pioneering design schools in ensuring that undergraduate and graduate designers learn design studies as part of their design education, which hasn’t always been the case elsewhere.

What does “Design Studies in Practice” mean? My aim with this part of our course is to help you translate some of the theory (both that which you learn with Ahmed, and other aspects we will explore) into practically applicable ways of working: how do you apply and make use of this in your projects and research, both those you do here at CMU and others more widely in the world. Our focus for much of this part of the course is using Research Through Design as an approach to ‘do’ design studies practically.

Perceived affordances, Pittsburgh. Photo by Dan Lockton

Expectations

We only have fifteen sessions together. Absences of any kind are strongly discouraged as your learning and work will be adversely affected by the information and activities you miss. Please be punctual, arriving just before the class start time, so we can begin the session promptly. If you are five minutes late or leave class early, you will be marked as absent. Two absences may cause your final grade to drop a letter. Three absences may earn you a failing grade for the course.

Please schedule doctor’s appointments, interviews, etc. for times other than class sessions. In the event that you encounter a health or life issue that requires you to miss class (such as a physician providing you with instructions that necessitate your quarantine) please notify me as soon as possible to provide an idea of the severity of your illness/issue and the length of time needed for recovery. Keep in mind, you are responsible for information you miss through absences or lateness. (Note: If your illness/issue requires recovery time that exceeds the absence policy for a passing grade, a leave of absence may need to be considered. If this becomes the case consultation with university resources on how best to support you may be necessary.)

Please bring academic timing conflicts to my attention as soon as possible and do not make travel plans before verifying the date of the event with us. While we encourage and support professional development through conferences and your search for internships and careers beyond the degree, it is also our expectation that you will balance these opportunities with the commitment you have made to your education here. You are responsible for any and all missed classes and assigned work, including team work. Please give Ahmed or Dan plenty of notice and discuss your plans with them carefully. This is particularly critical when additional days are taken for international travel. Instructors are not required to make allowances for your absences nor adjust the course schedule, so once syllabi are issued and calendars set, it is your responsibility to negotiate your absences. For team projects, it is also critical that you make these same negotiations with your fellow students, for fair completion of work according to assigned schedules and due dates. Before making travel arrangements for the end of the semester, check with Ahmed and Dan to confirm final dates for presentations, critiques and coursework submissions.

(This text is lightly modified from a new School of Design policy for Fall 2018)

Ethernet cables in a server room in London. Photo by Dan Lockton

Plagiarism

It’s not worth plagiarising anything. In this course, our aims include your development of a professional stance and approach to your work, and so we want you to embody that in everything you do. Very little in the world of design (or academia) is wholly original, but the ways in which you build on and transform others’ ideas in a respectful and appropriate way include attribution, acknowledgement and referencing. It is a marker of your professionalism, and you should treat developing this skill as part of your toolbox as seriously as you do other skills.

If you use an idea, image, or text from somewhere else, acknowledge this: reference where it came from. It makes your work stronger to do this — it shows that you are professional, well-read, and alert to developments in your field. If you are quoting or paraphrasing text, do it properly.

Here are the CMU policies on academic integrity, and although they look complicated, the section on plagiarism is relatively simple. As instructors, Dan and Ahmed will have to give you zero marks for any assignment which is plagiarised, and that could have a major effect on your overall grade for the course — and ultimately, your degree.

Image from a 2017 project by Bori Lee

Take care of yourself

This class is meant to be interesting, and exploratory, but as a student you are under lots of pressure from different directions. If you can maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester, it will help you achieve your goals and cope with stress. All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. You are not alone. There are many helpful resources available on campus and an important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help (this is actually a really useful skill to develop anyway, even in less stressful situations). Asking for support sooner rather than later is often helpful.

If you or anyone you know experiences academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, we strongly encourage you to seek support. Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) is here to help: call 412–268–2922 and visit their website http://www.cmu.edu/counseling/.
Consider reaching out to a friend, faculty or family member you trust for help getting connected to the support that can help. If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal or in danger of self-harm, call someone immediately, day or night:

CaPS: 412–268–2922; Re:solve Crisis Network: 888–796–8226

If the situation is life threatening, call the police:
On campus: CMU Police: 412–268–2323
Off campus: 911

If you have questions about this or your work, please let Dan or Ahmed know.

(This text is lightly modified from that provided by now-President Farnam Jahanian, based on the work of the Task Force on the CMU Experience)

Image from a 2017 project by Julia Petrich

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

If you have a disability and have an accommodations letter from the Disability Resources office, we encourage you to discuss your accommodations and needs with us as early in the semester as possible. We will work with you to ensure that accommodations are provided as appropriate. If you suspect that you may have a disability and would benefit from accommodations but are not yet registered with the Office of Disability Resources, we encourage you to contact them at access@andrew.cmu.edu.

(This text is lightly modified from that provided by Laurie Weingart, Interim Provost)