HfG Courses Prof. Andi Pollok

Digital Culture

Semester: Summer Semester 2023
Group: KG4 & KG6
Program: BA Communication Design
Credits: 2 ECTS

Location: H1.03
Time: Fridays 9–10:30am

Course Description

Analysis of developing digital systems and critical examination of their interconnections and impacts on their environment (society, environment, politics), as well as their influence on the role and professional understanding of designers.

Topic

Design and AI

This semester we focus on the impact of AI on design and society.

Course Content

Throughout the course, students will explore the ethical, social, and cultural implications of AI, as well as its potential impact on the job of the designer. The course will also address the ways in which technology is transforming the design process, from ideation to production.

Topics covered in the course include:

  • The history and evolution of technology in design
  • The principles and practices of AI and machine learning
  • The impact of AI on the job of the designer
  • The ethical and social implications of AI
  • The role of AI in shaping contemporary design practices

Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and small hands-on projects, students will develop a critical understanding of the relationship between technology and design, and the ways in which AI is changing the design landscape.

To gain practical experience with AI, students will create a mini-project. The project should outline a possible future scenario, highlighting the requirements placed on designers in the future and how their responsibilities are changing.

Upon completion of the course, students will have gained a solid foundation in the study of AI and its impact on the field of design, preparing them for a career in a rapidly evolving industry.

Learning Objectives

  • Understanding of digital culture and key technologies
  • Knowledge of how technology and the environment interact
  • Critical evaluation of current and future developments
  • Practical experience with AI
  • Reflection on the impact of technology on daily and professional life
  • Research preparation and presentation

Learning methods

Research, presentations, group discussions

Expected workload

In addition to participating in the weekly 1.5-hour course, students will be required to choose one subtopic from the semester topic "Design and AI" and conduct theoretical and practical research on it by completing a mini-project. The workload for this mini-project is expected to be around 2 days for groups of two to three students.

Assessment criteria

Attendance, active participation in discussions, presentation of research results, mini-project.