DES4006 Industrial Design 2: InnoForm (Autumn 2025)

Passed foundation level courses at AHO (BA-level) or equivalent education of 180 ECTS.

AHO students must have chosen industrial design specialization in GK5 and GK6, and taken Industrial Design 1: Futureproof or similar in the first master semester.

2nd year international master students must have been accepted for industrial design and taken Industrial Design 1: Futureproof.

Experience with industrial design methods, shaping form, digital and physical 3D modeling is required.

In the realm of Industrial Design, innovation is driven by the ability to reimagine products through novel solutions that address the needs of society, the economy, and the environment. The InnoForm course is designed to equip students with the essential creative methods and skills needed to develop sustainable and impactful design solutions. Effective communication of these ideas is paramount for transforming concepts into reality and ensuring they resonate in the marketplace.

This studio-based course immerses students in advanced tools for developing, prototyping, and presenting design solutions. Structured around iterative processes and comprehensive phases, participants will refine their skills from initial idea conception to compelling concept pitches, focusing on objects pertinent to industrial design.

Throughout the course, students will explore form-giving techniques supported by methodologies such as semantics, biomimicry, and parametric design. By engaging in design fiction and future scenario exercises, students will enhance their creativity and innovation capabilities.

The learning outcomes emphasize storytelling, physical modeling, and extensive use of digital media, ensuring students can communicate their design narratives effectively. Students will create a rich variety of physical and digital prototypes, integrating traditional sketching and model building with material experimentation and digital visualization. Regardless of the technological tools employed, the course remains anchored in the core competencies of Industrial Design.

 By the end of the course, students will have:

Knowledge:

• A profound understanding of the scenario-driven design process within Industrial Design.
• Awareness of sustainability principles and their application in the design process, emphasizing long-term impacts on society and the environment.
• Familiarity with contemporary trends and technological advancements in Industrial Design.
• Insights into storytelling across various media platforms, rooted in core Industrial Design skills.
• Knowledge of the professional standards and practices relevant to the design industry, including ethical considerations and the role of design in driving innovation.
• Understanding of the designers role both as a Creator and also their role as Curator in the use of digital tools

Skills: 

By the completion of the course the student shall have the ability to:

• Gain a deeper understanding of their competencies in Industrial Design and how to leverage them for innovation.
• Develop a reflective and realistic perspective on their current skill set and the requirements for professional advancement.
• Adapt to new tools and contexts, even in scenarios where traditional user feedback is unavailable.

General competence:

• The course adopts a design studio format, featuring a blend of lectures, seminars, workshops, and presentations. High attendance is essential, as participation in lectures, collaborative sessions, and individual work will be assessed alongside the completion of defined practice and project tasks. 

Workshops, lectures, individual and in groups. Peer feedback is a core method in the course.

The course starts with Design4Craft, the industrial design week at AHO.

Excursions related to project topics may be arranged and will be confirmed at semester start.

The students are expected to attend lectures and tutoring at AHO and work at their assigned studio space throughout the semester.

Form of assessment: Assessment folder

Grouping: Individual

Grading scale: Pass/fail

Comment: The course has 3-4 project deliveries. Each project will have a delivery of a physical objects supported with visuals and presentations and/or a reflective text. If a student does not pass any of the introductory modules, an improved delivery can be submitted for new assessment at a given date in due time before the final assessment. All assignments, presentations during the course must be completed and passed before a student can have the final assessment. There will be an external examiner for assessing the final module.Group delivery/assessment may occur in part of the course