The Course

Open
Design
COURSE

Mesh vzw organizes an 11-week course in Open Design for refugees, asylum seekers and “sans papiers” currently staying in Belgium.

The program focuses on Open Design as a technological and as a design or artistic practice. The course method is based on co-creation and peer learning, and puts an emphasis on new media literacy.

The course accepts a maximum of 15 participants. Candidates should apply by sending some background information about themselves. Our common language is English. There is no tuition fee, participation is free of charge. We can support your travel expenses to the course and also the lunch between morning and afternoon classes is covered by the course.

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The Program

WEEK 01

We get to know each other, the program, get to know our tools, What
Open Design is or could be, and explore design methodologies
collectively.

WEEK 02

This week we use the Raspberry Pi as a tool to explore physical computing and what we can do with it. Connect to it, command line, notion and python.

WEEK 03

Pixels and Vectors, we discover tools to vectorise ideas and identities.

WEEK 04

Pixels and Vectors, we discover tools to vectorise ideas and identities.

WEEK 05

What is 3D? Together with FormLab we examine 3D, How do we scan an object, modify it and bring it back to the physical world.

WEEK 06

The web and beyond, here we explore what lives on the web and quickly dive into the world of coding, this starting with html, css to animation and how to connect with a server.

WEEK 07 & 10

We finalize and go deeper into what you want to explore with a project. It can be Web, 3D, Raspberry Pi, the Scan or a sketch or everything together.

WEEK 11

WE share our work in progress that was developed during the course in an Open Lab.

We will update the full program in detail end of August.

THEORY AND PRACTICE

This intensive course will provide practical and theoretical competencies, and aims at a higher education learning level. It offers a broad and general overview of Open Design as a contemporary sociotechnical phenomenon, and facilitates individualised indepth and practice based learning of specific Open Design strategies and tactics. The course requires participants to attend classes 3 days per week.

ART, INNOVATION AND ENGAGEMENT

The course will theoretically and conceptually contextualize Open Design as an innovation practice and as a practice of artistic expression, as well as a practice of civic engagement.

This course will introduce and discuss a broad spectrum of tools and methods and their underlying narratives. For this, Open Design is approached as a possible basis for various related fields in art and design. You will explore examples from participatory design, social design, critical design, speculative design and experimental media art (art and technology, art and activism, bio-art…).

OPEN TOOLS

Introductions are offered in free and open source software tools (for networked communication, media creation and digital modelling) as well as open hardware and digital fabrication tools (Raspberry Pi, Arduino, 3D printing, laser-cutting). You will experiment with these tools and learn to implement them in your own design and creation process.

SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE

In order to establish an interesting, valuable and unique learning environment, candidates are selected based on a carefully managed admission process. This process does not only try to identify skills and knowledge, but will also focus on your ability to share your expertise with others.

WHAT WILL YOU MAKE?

We foresee a wide range of possible outcomes which can include: media creations or publications (books, magazines/editions, texts, videos, audio-works posters,… ), digital creations (websites, apps, software),  interactive objects or installations, speculative design (objects, prototypes, visualisations), social design (participatory performances, situations, events).
There is much more, and this is really up to you.

EVALUATION

Final evaluation of the candidates is based on self-assessment. You will be evaluating your own and your fellow participants’ achievements. Moreover you will be asked to evaluate the course and help us refine it for future candidates.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Please note that this is not an officially accredited course programme. Participants do receive a Certificate of Completion, but for now this is not related to an official degree.

LEARNING TOGETHER

The methodological approach of the programme is based on peer learning and co-creation. We strongly believe in embedding the core principles of Open Design into the very structure of the programme. Students are expected to bring their own knowledge and skills to the course, and engage thoroughly in sharing and collaborating with each other. For this approach of cooperative learning we seek to create a group of students maximising complementary expertise and creative talent, bringing together basic and highly specialised skills.

Participants

The ODC accepts participants with educational or professional backgrounds (or other experience) and skills from very diverse backgrounds. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions about this.

DESIGN SKILLS

  • web design or web development (html, css, javascript, python, php, mysql)
  • graphic design (adobe, open source tools)
  • digital design and digital manufacturing (3D modelling, 3D printing, laser-cutting,..), computer programming 
  • open hardware (arduino, raspberry pi, processing, pure data)
  • illustration
  • drawing
  • creative writing (storytelling, poetry, language and translation, journalism, copywriting)
  • audiovisual (sound-design, filmmaking, video  editing, motion graphics, animation)
  • radio, electronic music
  • design theory and thinking
  • specific design or handicraft skills such as furniture, fashion, textile design, tapestry…
  • marketing and advertising
  • printmaking (silkscreen, lithography, letterpress…)
  • project management
  • photography
  • performance making
  • social design
  • architecture and urbanism

OTHER BACKGROUNDS

 We are also welcoming additional expertise and skills from applicants with a background in:

Education sciences, Communication sciences, Political sciences, Anthropology or Cultural studies, Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology, Biology, or other academic backgrounds.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Candidates should:

  • demonstrate a keen interest in Open Design.
  • ideally have educational or professional expertise related to the skills listed.
  • are willing to share their skills with others in the context of co-learning and co-creation.
  • be at least 18 years of age.
  • be able to attend class meetings 3 days/week at KASK School of Arts, Bijloke campus in Ghent.
  • have basic computer skills.
  • have at least basic English language skills.
  • register via the application form (on our website, via mail or postal service).