Content

Do you want to contribute to the transition towards a more sustainable way of living? Do you have a positive attitude and want to use art and design to envision a better future? Join us in the Futures & Presence minor to contribute to provocative visions and ideas that will spark debates and new ways of thinking about today's global issues. We live in a time of multiple and complex global crises. These wicked problems are daunting, but inaction is not an option if we want to ensure more equitable, sustainable, and desirable futures. Artists and designers can contribute to global collaborative problem solving by creating scenarios and stories that inspire movements, model new ways of being, and elicit action. The Futures & Presence lens is a beacon of optimism, introducing visionary methods and collaborative problem-solving approaches. Your goal in participating in this minor is not only to gain an understanding of today's major issues but also to inspire action and cultivate a more desirable and sustainable collective future.

 

Format

 

Key terms: speculative design, transition design, storytelling, critical thinking, desk and field research, prototyping, and positioning.

 

Learning outcomes

Besides the general learning objectives of the Commercial Practices Minor program:

•  You can show an audience the personal intentions that inspired your work—both politically, ethically, and socially—as well as the motivations that led to your choice of medium/material and method.
• You can use storytelling to help develop, imagine, and communicate future scenarios.
• You can use existing methods and create new ones for foresight and future-oriented storytelling.
• You can use prototyping to communicate speculative visions.
• You can conduct artistic or design-based research—formulate a research question, use relevant sources, experiment and test ideas and materials, and draw a conclusion—that is relevant to the context of this minor.
• You can create work that adds not only economic value but also social, cultural, and environmental value.

What we offer

Our minor exposes you to both speculative design methods and modern approaches. This allows you to interact with and write about theoretical concepts, as well as learn how to create and implement digital and conceptual innovations in creative ways. You will be encouraged to think about your topic and field, as well as how you can incorporate techniques and concepts learned in class into your scenarios. Our emphasis is on rethinking our relationship to specific topics and our shared stewardship of these topics; thus, you are encouraged to take a philosophical and experimental approach. The emphasis is placed on the transition to a more sustainable future.

On a practical level, the Minor Future and Presence program is divided into two interrelated parts. A hands-on course in which you create a project/future scenario prototype while engaging with the various stations at WDKA. A research-based course in which you analyze your work and conduct research on interconnected contexts and future visions. Classes will include workshops and individual guidance meetings. You will also establish your position in a broad professional domain. A series of workshops will be held to address positioning and professional skills.

Consider this minor to be the preparation for your graduation project. At the end of the minor, you will have a future scenario prototype, which can be used as a graduation project to delve deeper and develop more nuance and sophistication on a specific vision. You can also consider the minor to be a future laboratory where you can experiment with visions and narratives to see what works and what you want to develop further in your graduation project. During the plus weeks, you must create a graduation plan.

What we expect

Students are expected to be active participants in group discussions and take the initiative. You will take charge of your project. For the creative process to work, you must have a show-and-share attitude. You must be open to experimenting, trying, failing, and testing. In addition, you are open to collaborative and interdisciplinary work environments, as well as critical and constructive feedback.

Deliverables:

• A  scenario prototype (media of choice),
•  A research process document (physical- physical-visual collection of all your process and research),
•  A research document (3000 words max.)
• A Pitching presentation during the assessment week,
•  A final collective public presentation

Assessment:

Assessment Individual

 

 

Learning outcomes

Besides the general learning objectives of the Commercial Practices Minor program:

• You can show an audience the personal intentions that inspired your work—both politically, ethically, and socially—as well as the motivations that led to your choice of medium/material and method.
• You can use storytelling to help develop, imagine, and communicate future scenarios.
• You can use existing methods and create new ones for foresight and future-oriented storytelling.
• You can use prototyping to communicate speculative visions.
• You can conduct artistic or design-based research—formulate a research question, use relevant sources, experiment and test ideas and materials, and draw a conclusion—that is relevant to the context of this minor.
• You can create work that adds 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:

• A  scenario prototype (media of choice),
• A research process document (physical- physical-visual collection of all your process and research),
•  A research document (3000 words max.)
• A Pitching presentation during the assessment week,
• A final collective public presentation

 

Assessment:

Assessment Individual

Are you a student from another educational institution and you want to take a minor at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, you can apply in 2 steps as follows:

1)     Register for the minor of your choice via the blue button Enroll. You can find this button at the top right of the minor's page.

Download and fill in the learning agreement

Submit this learning agreement to the Exam Board of your study programme.

Once the Board of Examiners has given its approval, please register for the minor in step 2 no later than 23 may 2025

 

2)    After approval, register in OSIRIS Aanmelding of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences via the link below (create an account first).

           https://osiris.hr.nl/osiris_aanmeld_hrprd/WelkomPagina.do?proces=KOM2509&opleiding=MINOR-WDK-VT+00

Part of the registration process is to upload the following documents:

-   The learning agreement signed by you and by your institution;

-   A scan or photo of your passport or ID card;

You will receive a message from Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences whether your application has been positively assessed or not.

In OSIRIS Aanmelding, you must also upload the Evidence Paid Tuition Fee (BBC) for the academic year in which you want to follow the minor. You can request the BBC from your institution after you have signed or issued an authorization for the payment of the tuition fees for the academic year in which you want to take the minor.

You will receive a message from Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences when your application has been approved.