Explorations of Form and Material

Education facts

Code: 5ID251

The course consists of four modules: **Visual Communication, 3 credits** The module begins with a historical overview of visualization and then provides students with the opportunity to work with various materials to explore basic visualization techniques. The focus is on using visualization as a creative and investigative tool to reflect on, develop, and communicate concepts and ideas. Students gain basic knowledge of proportions, perspective, light and shadow, grayscale, and color. They apply this by creating simple conceptual presentation sketches. Learning Goals: ELO 1, ELO 5 **Theme Week: Future Technologies, 1.5 credits** The module focuses on exploring various future technologies and contexts relevant to the design field. The module constitutes a theme that spans across the years of the bachelor's program. Learning Goals: ELO 9 **Form Studies, 4.5 credits** In this module, students conduct a group analysis of form with a focus on experience and impact. The analysis includes semiotics, form, color and material, where the object is examined in relation to its context and recipient. The aim is to use norm critical perspective to investigate how the object is perceived and what messages it conveys. Based on the analysis, students develop form proposals. Individually, each student works from a self-formulated goal to carry out a creative, iterative, and investigative artistic process - from early idea to final form proposal. During the process, form and design challenges are discussed and addressed with the support of guidance. Learning Goals: ELO 4, ELO 7, ELO 8, ELO 10 **Basic Design, 3 credits** The module aims to provide a fundamental understanding of form as a concept and the processes used to explore and shape three-dimensional forms in various materials. The module introduces basic processing methods and their safety regulations. Students are trained to communicate form-related concepts both orally and in writing. During the module, central concepts in product semiotics are introduced, and students practice analyzing and reflecting on how three-dimensional form affects experience and interpretation. Additionally, color is introduced as a concept and means for exploration in design. Learning Goals: ELO 2, ELO 3, ELO 6

Entry requirements

General entry requirements for admission to the Bachelor's programme in Industrial Design and English 6/level 2

Education offerings

Each offering has its own dates and conditions. Closed offerings are retained as history and do not mean that a new application is open.

• Explorations of Form and Material

  Umeå University

  Start date: 2 November 2026

  End date: 17 January 2027

  Pace of study: 100 %