Through the analysis of a specific case of a contested landscape on an international scale and the elaboration of a design-related problem-solving approach, students will learn how to apply design thinking in a global context. The studio course is a problem-driven research-by-design course and embraces essential environmental and socio-cultural problems (issues). Topics, methods, and objectives are specified in the studio brief. 

The course starts with an extensive field trip, to the selected site of study. During the field trip, students get an insight into the particularities of the specific case study and site, and how to carry out fieldwork (under consideration of research ethics). The specific landscape is explored, documented and mapped in the field and by other available sources, such as maps and written material. The analysis of all material and the design process are carried out within a studio framework.

Within this framework, students actively explore different theories, concepts, and methods that are relevant for the development of the design project, and test their application and relevance in an iterative process.

The students are guided through the project by lectures, short presentations, assignments as well as continuous feedback to the developing work. Feedback is provided by the responsible staff, and in the form of peer reviews, in a midterm and a final review.

The course aims at providing students with practical experience in how to  - approach a case study within a global context, - conduct a design-research project by applying a problem-solving approach, - explore and utilize research and design methods in a specific case study.

Knowledge: - Students gain insight into the site- and case-specific geographical, ecological, economic and socio-political conditions, at the selected case study site.

Skills: - Students are able to apply theoretical, methodological and empirical knowledge to a specific design challenge. - Students are able to present insights from their ongoing and final work in a concise way by means of a coherent oral and graphic representation.

General competences: - Students can gather information from first-hand and secondary sources in a respectful, ethical and transparent way. - Students can critically assess various kinds of information regarding their relevance and value to a project.

Expected full-time attendance.

Presentation of the studio outcome(s) at midterm and final review.

Active participation in the discussion with the invited reviewers.

Assignments; all assignments need to be ‘passed’ to pass the course. Final project outcome(s), graded.

All assignments are given and have to be submitted in ENGLISH ONLY.