Course code: IO3870
Course load: 3 EC

This course takes place in the first two weeks of the minor. The important aim of this course is to get to know each other by working together and to introduced the fields you will encounter in this minor. With all students we attempt to build one big interactive environment, in small teams (2 or 3 students) you will develop an element of this environment. This is made possible by use of software and hardware technology that is preconfigured in a pattern for such an interactive environment. During the course we will click everything into place together thereby exploring all aspects of interactive environments together. As a result we establish a common vocabulary that forms a sound basis for teaching and learning in the remainder of the minor.

Course code: IO3872
Course load: 3 EC

The Design Strategies course aims to introduce theory and inspiration relevant to the minor design assignment. On a collection of topics reading/viewing material is provided and the students have autonomy to organise a seminars. Most of the work in the Interactive Environments minor is active and hands-on, building prototypes, assessing the interactive experience, and everything in between. With the Design Strategies course, we aim to improve the academic skills of reading and writing. Reading for identifying relevant historical fields and prior-art communities to search for publications and extract knowledge for the benefit of the minor projects. Writing is already required in various activities in our minor in this course we try to go beyond the level of progress reporting by organising three individual writing assignments spread throughout the semester.

Course code: IO3873
Course load: 15 EC

The course design and prototyping studio is the main design track in the minor. Students work in very small groups as well as in larger groups on the main design assignment throughout the entire semester. This assignment is situated in a real-world context with stakeholders that are approachable and active in the course.

Students explore the possibilities for dynamic, interactive spaces in which people as well as technology have agency to engage in meaningful relationships  an ecosystem. In order to design and engineer successful interactive environments it is necessary to integrate knowledge of different disciplines in order to address not only technological, but also cultural, social, structural and aesthetical aspects of such systems that are all inherently interdependent on each other.

Course code: IO3875
Course load: 4,5 EC

The Technology Skills course aims to introduce the basic technology skills involved with making prototypes of tangible interaction designs. Students will be introduced to tools and techniques to create interactive prototypes, to create networks of interactive prototypes, work with digital manufacturing (modelling and fabrication) and the engineering aspects of interactive prototypes. These themes will be introduced, practiced and applied in cycles. Each cycle consists of a learning activity followed by an activity in which the newly learned skill is applied to a concrete design project.

Course code: IO3874
Course load: 4,5 EC

The Design Skills course aims to encourage an approach of problem solving that is common to different design disciplines. Nowadays this is often referred to as Design Thinking, and is rooted in some of the major companies of the worlds (i.e. Google sprints, IBM design thinking, etc.). Students will be introduced to theories and methods about user research, conceptualisation, validation (or testing) and design teamwork. These themes will be introduced, practiced and applied in cycles. Each cycle consists of a learning activity followed by an activity in which the newly learned skill is applied to a concrete design project.