MATHEMATICS (TURKISH, PHD)
PhD TR-NQF-HE: Level 8 QF-EHEA: Third Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 8

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
DES2917 Marks, Signs and Communication Fall 2 0 2 4
The course opens with the approval of the Department at the beginning of each semester

Basic information

Language of instruction: En
Type of course: Departmental Elective
Course Level:
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Dr. Öğr. Üyesi RENK DİMLİ ORAKLIBEL
Course Lecturer(s): Dr. Öğr. Üyesi RENK DİMLİ ORAKLIBEL
Course Objectives: This course intends to make students question their implicit assumptions on design activity. Students are equipped with a perspective on meaning in design practice, i.e. an understanding indispensable for designers, both as designers of new products or critics of existing ones.

Learning Outputs

The students who have succeeded in this course;
1. Express an understanding of theories and models of communication and semiotics
2. Demonstrate ability to write, adapt, and critically evaluate reading materials
3. Develop analytical thinking
4. Demonstrate ability to encode and decode visual sign systems
5. Explore the semantic qualities of industrial design
6. Apply semantic qualities of industrial design to design process
7. Gain skills to conduct projects based on design and culture

Course Content

In this course you will investigate the various ways in which products are given meaning and value, the way they are received and appreciated (or depreciated), with an emphasis on social, historical and cultural meanings and contexts. You will learn basic concepts and brief history of semiotics, advertising analysis, literature of product semantics, product analysis, and participate in workshops on product analysis and critical thinking.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction to course and discussion on meaning N/A
2) Basic Concepts of Semiology I: Saussure and Peirce Fiske, John (1982) ‘Chapter 3: Communication, Meaning and Signs’, in Introduction to Communication Studies, London: Methuen, pp. 39-63.
3) Basic Concepts of Semiology II: Codes Fiske, John (1982) ‘Chapter 4: Codes’, in Introduction to Communication Studies, London: Methuen, pp. 65-83.
4) Basic Concepts of Semiology III: Barthesian Semiotics Fiske, John (1982) ‘Chapter 5: Signification’ in Introduction to Communication Studies, London: Methuen, pp.: 85-99.
5) Basic Concepts of Semiology IV: Ideology Fiske, John (1982) ‘Chapter 9: Ideology and Meanings’ in Introduction to Communication Studies, London: Methuen, pp.: 165-188. Submission of assignment 1
6) Barthesian Semiotics of the Object Barthes, Roland (1994) ‘Semantics of the Object’, in The Semiotic Challenge, University of California Press, pp.: 179-190. Barthes, Roland (1972) ‘The New Citroen’, in Mythologies, Hill and Wang.
7) Student presentations: Semiotic analysis of an advertisement Preparation for presentation
8) Product Semantics I - How is Semiotics used in design? Submission of assignment 2
9) Product Semantics II – “Design as Communication” Krippendorff, Klaus; Butter, Reinhart (1984) Product Semantics: Exploring the Symbolic Qualities of Form. Scholarly Commons, pp.: 4-9.
10) Product Semantics III – “Design is Always a Message” Krippendorff, Klaus; Butter, Reinhart (2007) Semantics: Meanings and Contexts of Artifacts. In Product Experience, eds. Hendrik N.J. Schifferstein and Paul Hekkert, New York: Elsevier, pp.: 1-25. Submission of assignment 3
11) Product Semantics IV – Contemporary Discussions on Semantics N/A
12) Product Semantics Workshop – Applying Semantics to Design Process Submission of assignment 4
13) Product Semantics Workshop – Applying Semantics to Design Process Preparation for workshop
14) Product Semantics Workshop – Applying Semantics to Design Process Preparation for workshop

Sources

Course Notes: 1. Fiske, John (1982) Introduction to Communication Studies. London: Methuen. 2. Barthes, Roland (1994) The Semiotic Challenge. University of California Press. 3. Barthes, Roland (2012) Mythologies. New York: Hill and Wang. 4. Krippendorff, Klaus; Butter, Reinhart (1984) Product Semantics: Exploring the Symbolic Qualities of Form. Scholarly Commons. 8. Krippendorff, Klaus; Butter, Reinhart (2007) Semantics: Meanings and Contexts of Artifacts. In Product Experience, eds. Hendrik N.J. Schifferstein and Paul Hekkert, New York: Elsevier, pp.: 1-25.
References: 1. Krippendorf, K. (2006). The Semantic Turn: A New Foundation for Design. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis Group. 2. Silverman, Kaja (1983) ‘From Sign to Subject’, in The Subject of Semiotics, New York: Oxford University Press, pp.: 3-25.

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 14 % 5
Laboratory % 0
Application % 0
Field Work % 0
Special Course Internship (Work Placement) % 0
Quizzes % 0
Homework Assignments 3 % 55
Presentation % 0
Project % 0
Seminar % 0
Midterms % 0
Preliminary Jury % 0
Final 1 % 40
Paper Submission % 0
Jury % 0
Bütünleme % 0
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 60
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 40
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Duration (Hours) Workload
Course Hours 13 2 26
Laboratory 0 0 0
Application 0 0 0
Special Course Internship (Work Placement) 0 0 0
Field Work 0 0 0
Study Hours Out of Class 14 4 56
Presentations / Seminar 1 2 2
Project 0 0 0
Homework Assignments 4 2 8
Quizzes 0 0 0
Preliminary Jury 0 0 0
Midterms 0 0 0
Paper Submission 0 0 0
Jury 0 0 0
Final 1 2 2
Total Workload 94

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution