General provisions

The course is elective within the Master Programmes in Game Design. The course is a freestanding course.

Entry requirements

120 credits. Proficiency in English equivalent to the general entry requirements for first-cycle (Bachelor's level) studies.

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course, students will be able to:    

• Describe and apply the core principles of design thinking for personal and systems transformation.
• Identify different types of problems (e.g. solvable and unsolvable).
• Articulate actionable problem statements.  
• Apply design thinking to problem solving.
• Use brainstorming techniques to produce a wealth of testable ideas.          
• Create prototypes that allow them to solve complex problems and design their way forward.              
• Notice, reflect on and challenge their personal mythologies and life narratives to promote authentic choices.        
• Co-create and engage in supportive life design communities.

Content

This course teaches tools and strategies to stay flexible, nimble and able to adjust to the ever-changing realities of our modern world and possibly even make this world better, by drawing on a game design mindset and the principles of design thinking, combined with selected theories from play and creativity research, existentialism and positive psychology. It helps students apply these theories, tools and strategies to the relevant and complex problem of "life design".

Instruction

This course combines lectures and seminars that lay the theoretical foundation for life design with hands-on workshops, group work and prototyping exercises in which students create and try out various "life scenarios".

Assessment

Basis of examination are life design prototypes accompanied by their written reflections. Attendance is mandatory. Active participation in seminar discussions and peer critiques constitutes a part of passing the course.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University´s disability coordinator.

Uppsala University does not accept cheating or plagiarism. Suspected incidents of cheating or plagiarism are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, who may issue a formal warning to the student or suspend the student from studies for a certain period.