Overall objectives:

1 - Explore the connections between research and design through seminars with invited experts.
2 - Develop competency to generate an original research project idea.
3 - Analyse and synthesize a project of research for design or research through design.
4 - Shape a research project proposal through appropriate selection of a methodology.
5 - Structure a master dissertation summary through a title, abstract, keywords, objectives, index and a dissertation guide.

Syllabus:

1 - Build communication of a design research project.
2 - Urgent topics of debate in contemporary Design: Seminars with invited experts.
3 - Insights from seminars: research questions, methods and tools.
4 - Structuring a theoretical and practical research project.
5 - Strategies to select a suitable methodology for the research project.
6 - Methods to structure a dissertation proposal.

Literature/Sources:

Blessing, L. T. M. and A. Chakrabarti , 2009 , DRM, a Design Research Methodology. , Springer
Boehnert, J. , 2018 , Design, Ecology, Politics: Towards the Ecocene , Bloomsbury Academic
Braidotti, R. , 2019 , Posthuman Knowledge , Polity Press
Buchanan, R. , 2018 , Designs for the Pluriverse. Radical Interdependence, Autonomy, and the Making of Worlds. , Duke University Press
Julier, G. , 2008 , The culture of design , SAGE
Latour, B. , 2018 , Down to Earth: Politics in the New Climatic Regime , Polity Press
Manzini, E. , 2015 , Design, When Everybody Designs. An Introduction to Design for Social Innovation. , The MIT Press
Puig de la Bellacasa, M. , 2017 , Matters of care: speculative ethics in more than human worlds, Posthumanities, , University of Minnesota Press
Tsing, A. , 2015 , The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins. , Princeton University Press
Walker, S. , 2021 , Design and Spirituality. A Philosophy of Material Cultures. , Routledge

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
This CU adopts the Evaluation Model B. The discipline will consist of 2 main evaluation components: continuous evaluation (20%) and an elaboration of the dissertation proposal (80%). The assessment of the dissertation proposal development (80%) is subdivided into parts (maximum 6) corresponding to the phases of the project and according to the University of Madeira Learning Assessment Regulation. This CU being theoretical in nature, students are expected to acquire theoretical knowledge and apply theory into classroom assignments and tests. Along the progress of the semester, students are expected to present constant progress and demonstrate autonomy. The students will be judged on theoretical aptitude, text reading, scientific writing, idea analysis and synthesis competency.