Course syllabus for Design with user perspective

Course syllabus adopted 2026-02-20 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameDesign med användaren i fokus
  • CodeMEE120
  • Credits15 Credits
  • OwnerTKTDE
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyIndustrial Design Engineering
  • DepartmentMECHANICAL ENGINEERING
  • GradingUG - Pass, Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 70125
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0126 Project 7.5 c
Grading: UG		 7.5 c
0226 Project 7.5 c
Grading: UG		 7.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements

Course specific prerequisites


Aim

The course aims to develop students’ understanding of and ability to apply user-centred methods and approaches in design and product development processes. The course provides in-depth knowledge of how user needs are identified, analysed, and translated into functional, user-adapted, and technically feasible design solutions with an appropriate and purposeful design expression.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • Understand and explain user-centred design practice and its benefits.
  • Describe, apply and compare methods for collecting user information, such as observations, interviews and evaluations.
  • Describe and apply methods for compiling and analysing user information.
  • Communicate usage and user requirements in a convincing manner.
  • Define an appropriate point of departure for designing a solution that improves the situation of use (based on the results of a user study).
  • Describe, select and apply appropriate methods for addressing open and uncertain design problems.
  • Create and use appropriate physical models/representations in product development and design work.
  • Justify decisions and choices in design and product development work.
  • Communicate and argue convincingly for the function, use and embodiment of a self-developed solution.
  • Critically reflect on the conditions, execution and outcomes of the design/product development work.
  • Reflect on user adaptation in terms of norms, society, and ethics.
  • Reflect on social influence and bias in group work, and describe beneficial structures and strategies for developing inclusive collaboration within a group.

Content

The course addresses the central phases of the design process with a focus on a user-oriented approach, including:
  • User studies and needs identification
  • Analysis and formulation of user requirements
  • Idea generation and concept development
  • Prototyping and iterative development
  • Design, form-giving and visualisation of solutions
  • Communication and presentation of design proposals and other outcomes

The course is divided into two main parts:

Part 1 – User Studies and Needs Analysis
The first part covers fundamental theories, methods and working approaches for identifying, analysing and describing users’ needs, requirements and context. The focus is on the collection, interpretation and synthesis of user data, as well as the formulation of design requirements.

Part 2 – User-Centred Design and Form Development
The second part focuses on a systematic design process aimed at developing, designing and shaping user-adapted and technically feasible solutions based on a clearly defined user need. The work is carried out iteratively with support from prototypes, testing and feedback.

The course also includes a number of general competence components, for example related to group dynamics.

Organisation

The scheduled teaching activities consist of lectures, exercises, seminars and project presentations. A large part of the course is organised as group-based project work, which places high demands on planning and execution of tasks. The course also includes written short exams.

Literature

The course compendium “Lyssna till kundens röst” is distributed via the course website.
The book Design – Process och Metod by Wikberg-Nilsson et al.

Examination including compulsory elements

To pass the course, students must achieve a pass grade on the written short exams as well as on the project work. The grading scale is Fail/Pass.
In addition, participation in the general competence components (e.g. group dynamics) is mandatory in order to pass the course.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.

Design with user perspective | Chalmers