4-YEAR UG Professional Program
Creative and Applied Computation
Course Overview
The Bachelor of Design in Creative and Applied Computation (CAC) course is open to anyone eager to learn with no prior coding background. It provides students with the design and algorithmic thinking skills needed to develop digital and physical objects that ethically and meaningfully address human needs. You will work with a range of technologies, including emerging and experimental tools, to explore design possibilities spanning functional, practical solutions to imaginative, creative approaches. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to enter diverse fields, including interactive visual design, exhibit and installation creation, smart object development, data visualization, and media production in gaming and entertainment.
Vision
In Design, Creative and Applied Computation integrates computational methods/techniques to develop targeted, impactful solutions across diverse fields, including Architecture, Product Design, Digital Media, Ecology, Healthcare, Animation, Gaming, etc. This interdisciplinary approach combines principles from Computer Science, Engineering, and Design, addressing complex real-world challenges while fostering new forms of creative expression. It promotes collaboration among Designers, Engineers, Computer Scientists, and other experts, expanding the boundaries of possibility.
Key aspects include:
Algorithmic Design – Utilizing algorithms to generate and optimize design solutions. Algorithmic design can help plan landscapes and urban layouts by analyzing geographic, environmental, and social factors. For example, urban designers use algorithms to optimize green space distribution, pedestrian pathways, traffic flow, etc
Data-Driven Design – Leveraging data analytics and machine learning to inform design decisions. By analyzing large datasets, designers can uncover patterns and insights that guide the creation of user-centered and context-aware designs.
Interactive Systems – Programming software and integrating hardware components to create dynamic and engaging user experiences. Interactive Installations in Museums, Smart Home Devices, Interactive Kiosks in Public Spaces, Wearable Health Devices, Gaming with Motion Control, Public Art displays, Robotics, etc
Simulation and Modelling – Using computational tools to simulate and model real-world scenarios. This allows designers to test and refine their ideas in a virtual environment before implementation, reducing the risk and cost associated with physical prototyping
Digital Fabrication – Employing digital fabrication technologies such as 3D printing and laser cutting. These tools enable the precise and efficient production of complex forms and structures directly from digital models.
LEVEL
Undergraduate Degree
AWARD
Bachelors of Design (B.Des)
DURATION
4 Years / Full-time
Course Structure
The curriculum comprises of different ways of learning as follows:
- Foundation introduces students to basic principles and tools of Art, Design and Technology as methods, tools and processes.
- Disciplinary Studios are learning spaces where students develop core disciplinary capabilities, while navigating a trans-disciplinary environment
- General Studies is a common and compulsory programme of study that integrates Humanities, Sciences, Maths, business and finance. Development and Policy Studies and also offers Languages (Spanish, French and German)
- Interim is an immersive introduction to practice in new and emerging areas of art and design and environmental exposure
- Electives are of three kinds – this program allows students to expand their skills, develop the interests as well as provide opportunities for travel exchange
- Internship/Apprenticeship is compulsory work experience done over the summer-break between the 6th and 7th semester
- Project based learning involves the application and synthesis of capabilities acquired. Two projects, pre-thesis and thesis, is culmination of the 4-year undergraduate program, which allows for demonstration of an integration of values, positions, capabilities and practice.
Learning Approach
In the Creative and Applied Computation program, you will develop practical skills through hands-on and experiential learning by making and exploring. You will build analytical abilities through mathematical and algorithmic approaches, data contextualization, and interdisciplinary tools and applications. You will learn to utilize and explore new technologies, languages, and libraries and combine the physical and digital using hardware and code. The program emphasizes staying current on emerging technologies and frameworks, encouraging the customization and extension of tools to execute specialized tasks. Throughout the course, you will apply computation in diverse contexts, using practical testing to ensure success and add insight and value.
Capabilities
Upon successful completion of this course graduates will have developed the following capabilities:
- Identify ways in which processes can be represented using parameters and manipulate these algorithmically using computational tools.
- Learn emerging technologies and frameworks using online resources and documentation, and use them to build applications.
- Manipulate and represent media and data to gain insights into their structure.
- Build, customize or extend tools to execute specialized tasks.
- Combine the physical and digital using hardware and code to make objects capable of communicating and behaving in new ways.
- Apply computation in diverse contexts to add insight and value.
- Verify by testing that applications work as intended and find cases that they may fail in.