In this new academic year, the Master of Arts in Interaction Design (MAInD) introduces a new teaching module named ‘Data-Driven Design’ and focuses on the use of data in design practices. The module is organised in two courses. During the first semester, various speakers from academia and industry will present their projects and techniques with the aim of introducing students to data as a method of investigation and material for prototyping. A one-week workshop at the beginning of the second semester will then be an opportunity for students to experiment and apply what they have learnt during the first course.
The course proposes an in-depth study of the entire data pipeline, in order to provide students with both theoretical and practical skills for data management, starting from the collection phase, and then addressing the organisation, exploration and finally, communication of information.
The resources, techniques, tools and case studies introduced during the course will be organised in a digital toolkit called ‘roadmap to data’. This resource will be developed during the course and updated lesson by lesson, both by lecturers and students, encouraging a collaborative collection useful to all in the design phase.
For this reason, some of these meetings will take place in the library during the lunch break, with the possibility of remote connection. This choice aims at satisfying a more general need with respect to the understanding of the role of data in the contemporary world, trying to provide an informed and critical approach to this issue, especially with reference to the increasing availability of data from emerging digital technologies and practices.
During the first course, some talks by professionals have been scheduled during the lunch break to encourage participation from other institutes and disciplines.
The first lecture will be held on Thursday 26 September at 12:30 p.m. in the DACD Library at the SUPSI campus in Mendrisio. This is a one-hour presentation, during which Beatrice Gobbo, Post Doc Research Fellow at the Department of Design of the Politecnico di Milano and Adjunct Professor at the University of Milan, will answer the question ‘What are data and what is their role within design practices?’ The presentation aims to explore how power, ethics and social justice shape the creation and interpretation of data, fostering a critical and action-oriented approach to data.
The schedule of the course is following presented. Next to the date, there is a specification if the lecture is for MA students only or open to the public for participation.
Registration is required to attend any lecture, both in-person and online. The registration form is available below for every lecture.
26 September, 12:30-13:30- DACD Library ‘Making sense of data: What are data and what is their role within design practices?’
Beatrice Gobbo (in-person)
Open to everyone → link for registration
8 October - Lecture for MA students only
‘Visual encoding and decoding: How to visually translate data?’
Marco Mezzadra and Alessandro Zotta from Accurat Studio) (in-person)
16 October, 12:30-13:30 - DACD Library
‘Data Beyond Visual: Sonification: How does data sound?’
Sara Lenzi (online)
Open to everyone → link for registration
23 October - Lecture for MA students only
‘Data Beyond Visual: Physicalization: What shape do data have?’
Ginevra Terenghi, Antonella Autuori
29 October 12:30-13:30- DACD Library
‘Data for Investigation: How can data representation be employed to unveil the truth?’
Guillén Torres Sepulveda (online)
Open to everyone → link for registration
12 November - Lecture for MA students only
‘Data for Geospatial Mapping: How can data narrate locations?’ Enrico Bravi (in-person)
19 November - Lecture for MA students only
‘Cartographic Visualizations’ Marco Ferrari and Matteo Bettini by Studio Folder (in-person)
25 November, 13:30-14:30 - Aula Polivalente, DACD campus
‘Data for Training: Dsimon Performance’
Tammara Leites and Simon Senn (in-person)
Open to everyone → link for registration
10 December - Lecture for MA students only
‘Data for Prompting’, TBD
17 December, 12:30-13:30 - DACD Library
‘Data Exhibition: How does data transform into immersive spaces and environments?'
Quayola
Open to everyone → link for registration
For any inquiries: master.mid@supsi.ch