What is interaction design? In this session, we will introduce students to the discipline of interaction design and show a broad palette of examples of works in this space (both industry- and research-related). We will end with a practical exercise where students will begin to collaborate and, therefore, to get to know one another.

Monday June 30, 10.00 - 18.00h (CET)

Brief, planning, and early ideation. We will present the design project you will work on throughout the week. We will create teams of 4-5 students each (one from each of the participating universities). Then, we will travel to a nearby mountainy area, where we’ll be spending the next couple of days. There, we will conduct some ideation so each of the teams begins to find a project direction.

Tuesday July 1, 9.00 - 18.00 h (CET):

Contextual research over a trip to a nearby forest We will immerse ourselves in the surrounding forests to conduct contextual research for the project. By reflecting on your personal experiences with nature, you will start to generate ideas on how technology can enhance forestry interactions, making them more joyful and caring, and how these enriched experiences could inspire sustainable behaviors. To deepen our research, we’ll spend a second night in a mountain hut— an adventure that promises to be both engaging and fun!

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Wednesday July 2, 9.00 am - 18.00 pm (CET):

Data analysis and brainstorming. Still surrounded by nature, we will analyze and reflect on the findings from contextual research. Based on that, we will brainstorm speculative technology ideas that respond to those findings. In the afternoon, we’ll travel back to Girona, where we’ll spend the rest of our time.

Thursday July 3, 10.00 am - 16.00 pm (CET):

Concept development and rapid prototyping. Back in Girona, we will wrap up the ideation process by developing our best concepts into solid ideas. We will then work on the prototypes of the ideas generated so they are ready to present.

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Friday July 4, 10.00 am - 16.00 pm (CET):

Exhibition, reflection, and farewell celebration. We will wrap up your project by presenting it. We will talk about our final designs, of course, but also about our process. We will illustrate the final concepts with prototypes so everyone can understand and discuss them.

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Shaping up a career in interaction design & research We will reflect on the summer school activities, on the design projects and processes completed by all students involved, and on the main learnings from those processes. We will also use this wrap-up session to orient students towards an exciting future career in interaction design and research.