BA Concept Seminar 2025

Lecturers: Dr. Joëlle Bitton
Prof. Jürgen Späth
Mag. Dipl. Des. Nicole Foelsterl

Office hours by appointment

• The module takes place over 2 weeks, from 06.01.24 to 17.01.24, from Monday to Friday, 9.00-17.00 - see intranet for room details.
• Class sessions include lectures, discussions, mentoring sessions, in-class exercises, assignments, and independent study blocks.
• Projects are conducted individually or with a team of two students at most.

The BA concept seminar is considered a way to quickly prototype and showcase the thesis project in a video narrative. Students will develop a conceptual and practical exploration for their final BA thesis and present the experience they aim to create in the form of:

• A 3-page project description
• A prototype/mock-up showing the core aspects of the interactive experience
• A video showcasing the prototype in use

A blog documenting the 2-weeks progress is recommended.

The concept seminar addresses notions in preparation for the final thesis work:

• What does it mean to make a statement and a contribution to the field of interaction design?
• How to identify the design, social, and experiential opportunities within the topic of interest?
• How to define a space of potential design explorations?
• How to narrow down the topic following personal positioning, approach, and interests?
• How to present the desired embodied experience that the BA thesis should engender?

The 2 weeks are divided into two parts:

1. An investigative week with quick exercises, iterations, field studies, and achieving a first initial prototype.
2. A second week where students continue the process and summarize their BA idea and related experience in a video.

See below for a detailed calendar.

Grades will be based on class participation and final works.

• Contributing to constructive group feedback is an essential aspect of class participation.
• Regular attendance (80%) is required. Two or more unexcused absences will affect the final grade. Arriving late on more than one occasion will also affect the grade.

Grading Breakdown:

• Storytelling (video) – 30%
• Mock-up – 30%
• Project Description – 20%
• Exercises & Class Participation – 20%

Any assignment that remains unfulfilled receives a failing grade.

• Storytelling
  1. The experience should be presented in a video format with a narrative, showcasing the prototype and user's journey.
  2. (Go into the field if needed for your project.)

• Prototype/Mock-up
  1. The mock-up or prototype is the manifestation of ideas into a service, product, method, or user experience.
  2. Use basic or advanced materials to showcase ideas in the shape of a rapid prototype.
  3. The prototype should be functional so it can be experienced when exhibited.

• Project Description Update
  1. A 2-3-page text answering the following:
     • What is the context, topic, problem?
     • Who are the audience/participants?
     • Who will be impacted by your design (people/animals/plants, locations, systems, infrastructures, ecologies)?
     • What do you want to create and how should it work?
     • What values and potential do you want to address/generate?

The essay expands the thesis disposition with observations and conclusions drawn from the two-week BA concept seminar. Sources and bibliography can be used (classified by genre: book, book chapter, journal article, conference article, academic thesis, newspaper article, web article, etc.).

• Mock-up to be presented: 10.1
• Choice of mentor teams to be sent to Johannes via email: by Monday 13.1, 17:00
• Storytelling to be presented: 17.1
• Final Deliverables to be uploaded on the server: by Monday 20.1 at 9:00

See description of exercises below.

Miro Board: link.zhdk.ch/baconcept25

Exercise 1: 20 Ways of Description Write down and/or sketch 20 ways to define your thesis project on post-its and later sort them into categories. Define two or three most important statements.

Exercise 2: Topic Mapping Define all qualities, parameters, and values important for your thesis and ambition as a designer. Find the most relevant existing projects that match your criteria. Use sketches, photos, or collages to present projects on your wall. This mapping will continue & evolve throughout the seminar.

Exercise 3: Observation / Field Inquiry Find out through quick observation and field inquiry some elements that could inspire your project direction. (*It could also be in the form of bodystorming, auto-ethnography, role-playing…*) Post photos & findings on the Miro Board.

Exercise 4: Design Exploration Area (50 Sketches of Design) Identify two or three most important dimensions of your topic mapping.

1. This will be your “design exploration area”
2. Showcase relevant aspects to explore further
3. Define how to apply criteria to your design process & outcome
4. Sketch quickly 50 ideas to populate your design area
5. Place them on your design area in relation to criteria and parameters (sketches, photos, or collages).

Exercise 5: Develop 2-3 “How Might We” Questions Develop two to three “How Might We” Questions See: NNGroup - How Might We Questions

Let me know if you need any modifications! 🚀😊