The main objective of this course is to offer graduate students an understanding of the methodological nature of the design process. By the end of the course it is expected that the students:

• know about the emergence of design methods in the field of industrial design, their development and application as generative resources;

• relate how design methods have formed the basis of many domain-specific discussions leading to a common understanding of design;

• demonstrate ability in discussing the boundaries of the design process, the nature of the design activity and the role of the designer;

• understand the usage of design methods within the design process carried out for the development of a design solution;

• identify the individual strategies that they use throughout the various stages of the design process, for an awareness of own design approach and skills;

• recognise the need for and are able to formulate further methods and models that may contribute to the discipline, in terms of theory and practice.