Units of Inquiry

This unit of inquiry focuses on the practical aspects of ergonomic investigations within UCD.

Duration

20-25 Hours

This unit of inquiry explores UCD, equipping students with the essential skills to understand end-user(s) and
translate those insights into impactful design solutions.

Duration

20-25 Hours

This unit of inquiry develops an understanding of the complex relationship between design choices,
material properties and their impact on sustainability. Through theoretical exploration, practical exercises
and real-world context, students will gain a critical understanding of how to classify materials based on
their structure, composition and performance characteristics.

Duration

20-25 Hours

This unit of inquiry explores how designers transform ideas into functional and successful products, with a
focus on product analysis and material choice.

Duration

20-25 Hours

This unit of inquiry introduces the core principles of UCD. Students will explore the theoretical foundations
of user research, translate them into practical skills and apply them to analyse critically and improve
existing products.

Duration

20-25 Hours

This unit of inquiry introduces how the four-pleasure framework can be used to create designs that intentionally trigger socio-, physio-, psycho- and ideo-pleasure responses. Students must be able to suggest how the attract/converse/transact (ACT) model can be used as a framework for creating products that intentionally trigger positive emotional responses, considering desirability, usability and usefulness.

Duration

4-5 Sessions

This unit of inquiry explores five manufacturing categories: additive, subtractive, forming, joining, and finishing. Student will select appropriate techniques based on material properties, production scale, cost constraints, and environmental considerations.

Duration

7-9 Sessions

This unit of inquiry explores natural and manufactured structures. Students should be able to analyse and
discuss them. They should be able to identify and group frame, shell and solid structures and how they are
used in everyday product design.

Duration

14 Hours

This unit of inquiry explores designing in electronics. Students should be able to understand electronics
that are present in everyday products.

Duration

16 Hours

This unit of inquiry explores designing in movement. Students should be able to analyse mechanical
movements in products and their impact in different manufacturing techniques used for producing
different products.

Duration

14 Hours

This unit of inquiry explores sustainability through circular design.

Duration

3-4 Sessions