PM403
Design Research for Complex Systems
Faculty
Kasey Klimes
Founder & Principal Design Researcher at Rhizome R&D
Course length
Duration
Total hours
Credits
Language
Course type
Fee for single course
Fee for degree students
Skills you’ll learn
Overview
The design of great tools begins with a deep understanding of great problems. This course fuses theory and practice to equip students to navigate the frontier of emerging technology in a world of complex systems. Students will learn how to conduct design research and build strategy at the earliest stages of design and development, when ambiguity demands a discovery-oriented mindset. The course will draw from lessons in complexity science, cybernetics, media theory, evolutionary psychology, postmodern philosophy, grounded theory and more. Classes will incorporate lectures, seminars, and studios—during which students will carry out their own design research project
Learning highlights
- Principles of design research
- Complexity theory
- Innovation in emerging technology
- User-centered design and design for emergence
Course outline
15 classes
Session 1
Introductions.
Building a theory of value.
Session 2
“The User”.
Evolutionary, cognitive, learning psychology.
Session 3
STUDIO
Aligning stakeholders and asking the right question.
Session 4
“The Context”.
Complexity theory.
Session 5
STUDIO
Qualitative research methods and study planning.
Session 6
“The Technology".
Design for emergence.
Session 7
STUDIO
Conducting participant sessions.
Session 8
“The Construction of Knowledge”.
Grounded theory.
Session 9
STUDIO
Qualitative data analysis.
Session 10
“The Art of Abstraction”.
Mental models.
Session 11
STUDIO
Product & design strategy.
Session 12
“The Seduction of Simplicity”.
Legibility & reductionism.
Session 13
STUDIO
Visual Communication.
Session 14
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
Session 15
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
Course materials
Books
Methodology
Classes will alternate between lectures, seminars, and studio time for student projects. Lectures and seminars will cover readings, discuss theory, and teach methods. Studios will provide hands-on time for student projects with one-on-one guidance and support. The final two classes will be reserved for student presentations
Your grade will be determined on the following:
Homework (30% of total grade): There will be three (3) homework assignments, which may include final project checkpoints
Final project and presentation (50% of total grade): You will deliver a group final project and presentation at the end of this course
Participation (20% of total grade): This course, its subject matter, and methods covered will require you to be highly prepared, engaged, and collaborative on a daily basis, especially in your final project groups
Grading
Kasey Klimes is a design researcher and strategist with over a decade of international experience in emerging technology and environmental design. He is the founder of Rhizome R&D, a design consultancy that supports early-stage ventures as they navigate complex and ambiguous problem spaces. At Google, Kasey led research for the first world-scale augmented reality experience in Google Maps—which was listed among Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2021 and won a Webby among several other awards. At Gehl, an urban design consultancy in Copenhagen, he led urban transformations in cities around the world and architected the world’s largest public life database. He has since advised industry-leading venture studios, world-class medical research institutions, national digital news media organizations, international real estate developers, and numerous startups. Kasey holds a Masters in City Planning from UC Berkeley and a B.A. in political science.
See full profileApply for this course
Design Research for Complex Systems
by Kasey Klimes
Total hours
45 Hours
Dates
Nov 07 - Nov 25, 2022
Fee for single course
€1500
Fee for degree students
€750
How to secure your spot
Complete the form below to kickstart your application
Schedule your Harbour.Space interview
If successful, get ready to join us on campus
FAQ
Will I receive a certificate after completion?
Yes. Upon completion of the course, you will receive a certificate signed by the director of the program your course belonged to.
Do I need a visa?
This depends on your case. Please check with the Spanish or Thai consulate in your country of residence about visa requirements. We will do our part to provide you with the necessary documents, such as the Certificate of Enrollment.
Can I get a discount?
Yes. The easiest way to enroll in a course at a discounted price is to register for multiple courses. Registering for multiple courses will reduce the cost per individual course. Please ask the Admissions Office for more information about the other kinds of discounts we offer and what you can do to receive one.