Do you want to challenge the status quo, create innovative tools, and shape our shared future in ways you never imagined? Are you seeking for meaning and value in your work? Do you wonder what it means to make a living from art and design practices in these times of transition? This minor equips you with tools and methods to navigate the interconnections of technology, culture, identity, and community. 
 
In the minor Contexts & Situatedness we don’t offer you a theme or subject. Instead, you bring your own. What do you want to work on, what is your passion, and what concerns you in the world? That forms the starting point of your minor. We help you to research that content through exploring the contexts they are part of and help you to understand how you can create value with it. You will develop a research and prototyping trajectory, connecting ways of observing and understanding the world, to artistic experimenting. This exercise is open-ended, as in the realm of Commercial Practice, we perceive the world as a multitude of interconnected systems. At its essence, you will actively explore and engage with these systems to discover the value in your work – a purpose or a niche where your work can be valuable. Output from this approach is understood as the production of situated knowledge. 

What we offer: 
On a practical level, the program of the Minor Context and Situatedness is structured into two interrelated components. Atelier is a practice-based course where you develop your project prototype. Context research, a theory-based course where you analyse your work and research interconnecting cultures and contexts, classes will consist of workshops and individual guidance meetings. You will also formulate your position within a broad professional domain. Positioning and Professional skills will consist of a series of workshops. 

What we expect: We expect students to engage with the group discussions and your peers and to have a self-driven initiative. You will be taking ownership of your project. A show and share attitude are required for the creative process . Experiment, trial and error, test. Open to collaborative and interdisciplinary working environments. Open to critical -constructive feedback. Be present. 

 
Research methods and approaches:  

•  Critical thinking, systemic thinking, value creation, artistic research, field research, production -material research, concept development, prototyping, testing, and positioning. 

In addition to the general learning objectives of the Commercial Practices Minor program 

• You are able to position your work in a relevant societal context and add value to that context. 
• You are able to use design as a critical tool to question everyday contexts, both current realities as well as possible futures. 
• You are able to experiment and critically interrogate the role of design/artistic tools, technologies, and approaches within various contexts (e.g. space, time, and culture). 
• You can reflect on and experiment with alternative modes of organization and production 
• You are able to make work that creates not only economic value, but also social, cultural, and environmental value.  

This minor is open to WdKA students. Students from other institutes are required to send a portfolio and motivation. You will receive more information about this after you have registered for this minor. We advise students from other institutes to register at least one month before the deadline. The admission procedure takes at least two weeks. In case you are not accepted into the minor, you might need some time to register for another minor.

Deliverables: 

• Concept Prototype 
• Process document (physical-visual collection of all your process and research) 
• Research document (3000 words max.) 
• Pitching presentation during the assessment week 
• A collective final public presentation is required. 

Working method:  

• Collaborative and individual 

Assessment: 

• Individual