Keynote lectures

THE 9th NORDCODE SEMINAR 26th of MAY 2010,  "Participation and Dialogue"

The Nordic network for research on communicative product design (Nordcode) was initiated in 2002 and has held a series of successful seminars at Nordic design research institutions since 2003. The seminars have contributed to the design discourse, and research publications. The 9th Nordcode seminar in 2010 will be in Norway, at Kjeller Science Park outside Oslo. The seminar is organized and hosted by the Department of Product Design, Akershus University College (HiAk), Norway. The seminar is open to everyone the first day, and continues in closed sessions for preregistered design researchers the 27th and 28th of May.

In the last decade, product design has become a key factor in attracting and modifying participation of stakeholders. However, many questions remain, such as "How can the design process facilitate participation in a new way?" and "What are the expected results of this participation?" Qualities of participation depend on factors such as the possibilities to create platforms for communicative dialogue, the experiences that participants have with a product concept and the cultural and social settings for participation.

An aim for this seminar is to discuss how interplay in research and practice in design can explore the concepts of participation and dialogue. This concerns the following issues:

• communicative and semantic aspects of artefacts
• aesthetic qualities of physical products and objects
• user experience
• user involvement in service design
• user involvement as a driving force for innovation
• user involvement as a driving force for sustainable development
• user involvement as a resource for new concepts
• methods for participatory design
• innovation and critical perspectives on design
• user involvement and product attachment
• implications for research, practice and industry

Hosted by Faculty of Product Design, Akershus University College, Norway

Invitation and program May 26

Keynote speakers:

Liz Sanders, PhD

"Sustainable Innovation through Participatory Prototyping" (Preliminary title).
Liz Sanders is President of MakeTools,Liz Sanders is President of MakeTools, a design research firm. She is a pioneer in the use of participatory research methods for the design of products, systems, services and spaces. Liz speaks about and teaches human-centered design to students, clients and colleagues around the world. At The Ohio State University, Liz teaches design research courses and advises graduate student theses and dissertations. Liz's numerous design awards, patents, publications, presentations, and her proven track record in the marketplace have established her as a leader in the field of design research. Liz's client relationships have included several major companies.

Anders Warell, PhD

"From the material to the immaterial: Rethinking user experiences through design" (Preliminiray title). Anders Warell is a senior researcher at the School of Industrial Design, Lund University. He joined Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand in 2005, and founded Affect - the Centre for Affective Design Research, which became instrumental in leading the research development and creating collaboration opportunities between researchers at the School of Design and New Zealand industry. As a designer and researcher, Anders has collaborated with international as well as small companies. His research interests span from product brand identity, product aesthetics and semiotics, to user experiences and methods and tools for strategic design. Anders was a cofounder of Nordcode in 2002.

Kurt Aagaard Nielsen, professor dr.scient.soc.
Birger Steen Nielsen, associate professor.

"Artistic Sence - a key concept in action research -two examples from development of sketches for change in fishing industry and in cultivated landscape."
Kurt Aagard Nielsen and Birger Steen Nielsen are both working as senior researchers at Roskilde University, Denmark, and Kurt Aagaard Nielsen is also a Professor II at HiAk, Norway. Together they have published several books within worklife research, within citizens` participation in environmental regulation and within methodology in social science and action research. They are the initiating names behind a tradition called critical utopian action research, which is an approach to action research based on Critical Theory - in particular Adorno`s and Rudolf zur Lippe`s works on aesthetics. See for example Aagaard Nielsen & Steen Nielsen (2006): Methodologies in actin research. In Aagaard Nielsen & Svensson (ed): Action Research and Interactive Research. Shaker Publishing. Masstricht.

Other presentations:

Norsk Form: Design without Borders - a tool for development
Design without Borders is a development program founded on the belief that design and designers can make a significant contribution towards a better and more sustainable society. Results achieved in the program are showing that the use of design in development processes leads to business development, improved living conditions and more efficient emergency aid. The program aims at utilizing creative and analytic skills in participation and dialogue. Design without Borders is also aiming to support local product development competency and raise awareness of design as a tool for development. This is exemplified with a case study from Uganda.

Campus Kjeller: Design a tool for increased innovation and value creation
The mission of Campus Kjeller is to initiate and drive the commercialization process of research ideas and technology from Kjeller and Ås Science Park. The primary objective is to facilitate innovation processes and execute on commercialization initiatives. In recent years Campus Kjeller has started to focus on the positive value design can add to these processes. A report made by Norsk Designråd confirms this; their inquiry demonstrates that businesses using design expertise enhance turnover, competitiveness, market value and flow of new products. Campus Kjeller has for years cooperated with HiAK on design and has recently invested in the start up of Kadabra Kjeller- a design company focusing on technology and science.

Supported by

The seminar is organized in Collaboration with the Nordcode steering group/ Martina Keitsch /Oslo School of Architecture and Design.

The seminar is supported by Nordcode, The Research Council of Norway, Campus Kjeller Science Park and Akershus University College.

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