Course Description
Urbanization presents several obstacles in the overall distribution of people, resources and consumption of land. This is particularly relevant in Karachi, where, as a horizontally sprawling city, it is more challenging to handle the rapidly increasing population as well as the negative externalities associated with it. It is fundamental to critically discuss and sensitively identify effective housing strategies and solutions beneficial to Karachi’s context. This course looks at different housing schemes within Karachi and zooms into squatter settlements, slums, etc. Students look at housing projects all over the world, and explore various methods of making self-sufficient and sustainable neighborhoods, and the students get to implement their learnings by identifying a low income neighbourhood and providing a development proposal.
Housing in Karachi
December 31, 2020 by
Introduction to Game Development
December 31, 2020 by
Course Description
The course defines the principles of game design and development, and also teaches basic programming. During the course, the students learn to structure and define the duties of the game development team, understand story-telling, practice various art and animation creation tools and learn to create their own digital music, to add interesting assets to their games. The course also helps in applying mathematics and physics to game design, and to program basic artificial intelligence to their games. By the end of the course, the students gain the capability to develop their own games and port them to various popular platforms in the current market.
The course defines the principles of game design and development, and also teaches basic programming. During the course, the students learn to structure and define the duties of the game development team, understand story-telling, practice various art and animation creation tools and learn to create their own digital music, to add interesting assets to their games. The course also helps in applying mathematics and physics to game design, and to program basic artificial intelligence to their games. By the end of the course, the students gain the capability to develop their own games and port them to various popular platforms in the current market.
Participatory Approaches to Community Driven Development and Policy Change
December 31, 2020 by
Course Description
This course provides a critical perspective on participatory approaches to community driven development and policy change. Students are first introduced to the models, techniques and research methods, and then engage with practitioners to understand what it means to apply these ideas in the field. The course draws out the link between community mobilization practice, applied research and ethics of participatory engagement with communities. Various mobilization and research approaches like Participatory Action Research (PAR), Participatory Reflection and Action (PRA), Theatre for Development, and Theatre of the Oppressed are covered. Art techniques like Photovoice and Digital Storytelling are drawn upon, and social media is explored as a tool for social mobilization.
This course provides a critical perspective on participatory approaches to community driven development and policy change. Students are first introduced to the models, techniques and research methods, and then engage with practitioners to understand what it means to apply these ideas in the field. The course draws out the link between community mobilization practice, applied research and ethics of participatory engagement with communities. Various mobilization and research approaches like Participatory Action Research (PAR), Participatory Reflection and Action (PRA), Theatre for Development, and Theatre of the Oppressed are covered. Art techniques like Photovoice and Digital Storytelling are drawn upon, and social media is explored as a tool for social mobilization.
The Artist’s Book: Creative Approaches to Image and Text
December 31, 2020 by
Course Description
This intensive, hands-on course is partly an initiation into the vast field of book arts and partly an exploration of the rich interfaces between image and text. Students learn production (like forming a book with a few basic folds and multiple bound leaves) and different techniques like linocut printing, to extend their image-making abilities. The course helps students extend their creative voices through various content generation activities. Finally, the course enables them to identify relationships between content and form (placement and sequencing) for coherence and flow, along with the fundamentals of design, with the final outcome being hand-bound books with original content.
This intensive, hands-on course is partly an initiation into the vast field of book arts and partly an exploration of the rich interfaces between image and text. Students learn production (like forming a book with a few basic folds and multiple bound leaves) and different techniques like linocut printing, to extend their image-making abilities. The course helps students extend their creative voices through various content generation activities. Finally, the course enables them to identify relationships between content and form (placement and sequencing) for coherence and flow, along with the fundamentals of design, with the final outcome being hand-bound books with original content.
Introduction to Photography
December 31, 2020 by
Course Description
This course covers the basics of making digital photographs and appreciating the roles this compelling medium plays in contemporary life. Emphasis is on the development of technically, aesthetically and conceptually sound images, and on the conscious and thoughtful illuminating of a three-dimensional world within a two-dimensional space, in order to generate communicable value and meaning. Besides learning the workings of a camera and exposure, students get the opportunity to learn about the basics of design, the fundamentals of powerful photographs, and how to find and build narratives. Through the assignments and discussions, students learn how to talk about what is visually compelling and meaningful.
This course covers the basics of making digital photographs and appreciating the roles this compelling medium plays in contemporary life. Emphasis is on the development of technically, aesthetically and conceptually sound images, and on the conscious and thoughtful illuminating of a three-dimensional world within a two-dimensional space, in order to generate communicable value and meaning. Besides learning the workings of a camera and exposure, students get the opportunity to learn about the basics of design, the fundamentals of powerful photographs, and how to find and build narratives. Through the assignments and discussions, students learn how to talk about what is visually compelling and meaningful.
Illustration as Narration
December 31, 2020 by
Course Description
This course involves a series of lectures, discussions, and class activities. Both the students and instructors are challenged, as the students get to put their pencils to paper while being briefed by their teacher, who does the same on the white board during class dialogues and discussions. The assignments are designed as such to allow the interactions between the students and teacher to simultaneously touch upon both the illustrative skills required for any given subject matter, and its historical and social theoretical context. The course is flexible and the topics/themes taught each year change in accordance to the interests of the students.
This course involves a series of lectures, discussions, and class activities. Both the students and instructors are challenged, as the students get to put their pencils to paper while being briefed by their teacher, who does the same on the white board during class dialogues and discussions. The assignments are designed as such to allow the interactions between the students and teacher to simultaneously touch upon both the illustrative skills required for any given subject matter, and its historical and social theoretical context. The course is flexible and the topics/themes taught each year change in accordance to the interests of the students.
Design Research
December 31, 2020 by
Course Description
This is a two-part course that is taught across the span of a year. Part I introduces students to the concept of searching for and isolating problems in their physical world, by presenting a product, process or service in the form of a research proposal. It helps refine the presented proposals by inculcating an understanding of relevant practice-based research approaches and methods and helps develop a research paradigm in the context of inter- and trans disciplinary curiosities. In Part II, students are tasked with the rigorous process of transforming their research ideas into a final, creative manifestation of their work, including, but not limited to design artifacts, scholarly research articles, a short/feature-length film, or dynamic/interactive visuals.
This is a two-part course that is taught across the span of a year. Part I introduces students to the concept of searching for and isolating problems in their physical world, by presenting a product, process or service in the form of a research proposal. It helps refine the presented proposals by inculcating an understanding of relevant practice-based research approaches and methods and helps develop a research paradigm in the context of inter- and trans disciplinary curiosities. In Part II, students are tasked with the rigorous process of transforming their research ideas into a final, creative manifestation of their work, including, but not limited to design artifacts, scholarly research articles, a short/feature-length film, or dynamic/interactive visuals.
Engineering Innovation & Design
December 31, 2020 by
Course Description
This course aims to cultivate skills needed to be a more effective engineer by incorporating design thinking practices to work on locally contextualized wicked problems. Students are given the chance to study and apply various design techniques, and understand and address the various problems that show up in the design process. Divided into three phases – inspiration, ideation and development – the course exposes students to the theme of the problem, allows them to brainstorm possible solutions and finally, develop what they think is the most feasible solution. Over the years, themes have included Global Surgery, Child Health, Emergency Care, Education, and Electrical Power in Pakistan, as well as a collaboration with doctors at the Aga Khan University Hospital. Past projects have included helpline systems, wearable digital belts to monitor child health, a mobile app to assist with vaccinations, software to record patient data via RFID tags and a medical band that can measure and transmit patient’s vitals to the relevant hospital so that they can be prepared for incoming patients.
This course aims to cultivate skills needed to be a more effective engineer by incorporating design thinking practices to work on locally contextualized wicked problems. Students are given the chance to study and apply various design techniques, and understand and address the various problems that show up in the design process. Divided into three phases – inspiration, ideation and development – the course exposes students to the theme of the problem, allows them to brainstorm possible solutions and finally, develop what they think is the most feasible solution. Over the years, themes have included Global Surgery, Child Health, Emergency Care, Education, and Electrical Power in Pakistan, as well as a collaboration with doctors at the Aga Khan University Hospital. Past projects have included helpline systems, wearable digital belts to monitor child health, a mobile app to assist with vaccinations, software to record patient data via RFID tags and a medical band that can measure and transmit patient’s vitals to the relevant hospital so that they can be prepared for incoming patients.
Urban Planning – Past, Present & Future
December 31, 2020 by
Course Description
This course aims to establish an understanding of how political, socio-economic, and environmental triggers can shape the design of cities and places this understanding within the context of Karachi. The development profile of the city is explored through the themes of urban equity and inclusivity, and the Human Centered Design methodology is used to apply the key aspects of urbanism to Public Space Design and Urban Mobility. Discussions on how to incorporate an inclusive and participatory planning process to include the issues of gender, equity and climate change, help establish an understanding of sustainable city design.
This course aims to establish an understanding of how political, socio-economic, and environmental triggers can shape the design of cities and places this understanding within the context of Karachi. The development profile of the city is explored through the themes of urban equity and inclusivity, and the Human Centered Design methodology is used to apply the key aspects of urbanism to Public Space Design and Urban Mobility. Discussions on how to incorporate an inclusive and participatory planning process to include the issues of gender, equity and climate change, help establish an understanding of sustainable city design.
Sustainable Urban Mobility
December 31, 2020 by
Course Description
In Karachi, development sectors are typically planned in isolation, and have no viable integration with each other. This course looks into Karachi’s challenges with urban mobility and how the lack of synergy with overall urban growth can have adverse social, economic and environmental impacts. There is a focus on the integration of urban land uses and transportation planning, so that sustainable modes of mobility are organically dovetailed with smart and sustainable urban design strategies to make the city more walkable and friendly to Non-Motorized Transport.
In Karachi, development sectors are typically planned in isolation, and have no viable integration with each other. This course looks into Karachi’s challenges with urban mobility and how the lack of synergy with overall urban growth can have adverse social, economic and environmental impacts. There is a focus on the integration of urban land uses and transportation planning, so that sustainable modes of mobility are organically dovetailed with smart and sustainable urban design strategies to make the city more walkable and friendly to Non-Motorized Transport.
