2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Entrepreneurship courses

Technology and Product in Context

Academic unit or major: Entrepreneurship courses
Instructor(s): Kayoko Nohara / Giorgio Salani
Class Format: Exercise (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses: -
Day of week/Period (Classrooms): Intensive (S5-407A)
Class: -
Course Code: ENT.G453
Number of credits: 010
Course offered: 2025
Offered quarter: 4Q
Syllabus updated: Sep 18, 2025
Language: English

※ Courses with parentheses in the course number have different subject codes depending on the student's year of admission.

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

How can we develop innovative solutions that are sensitive to cultural context? How can new technologies, products and services be respectful not only of customer needs but also of the environment and society at large? We aim to develop our own answers to these questions through taking part in theoretical lectures and practical workshops. The seminars will be integrated in the Hybrid Innovation Practice, a speculative design project which is part of the Hybrid Innovation programme for industry, an original approach to innovation developed by Science Tokyo. Students will join groups of mid-career employees from Japanese companies to gain practical experience of ideation and prototyping of original solutions responding to complex scenarios.

Course description and aims

1. Interpret and overview the relationship between people and objects through key theoretical frameworks informed by both art and science.
2. Learn to work cooperatively with others on prototypes of new products or services responding to own design briefs.
3. Demonstrate skills in observation, ideation and communication through creative exercises and project development
4. Exhibit skills in teamwork, empathy, critical thinking, and resilience in uncertain innovation contexts alongside students and company employees
5. Experience transdisciplinary understanding through group discussions and activities, and relate this to their own studies and career plans.
6. Learn to think scientifically and creatively about complex societal issues.

Student learning outcomes

実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)

The course is offered by a diverse team comprised of instructors and invited guest lecturers with experience in a wide range of disciplines and fields across science, art and design. The sessions are facilitated by Prof. Nohara's and Dr Salani's original transdisciplinary activities based on best practice of art and design pedagogy.

Keywords

Innovation, speculative design, technology, translation, critical thinking, future crafting, design/art thinking

Competencies

Specialist skills
Intercultural skills
Communication skills
Critical thinking skills
Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Inquisitive thinking and/or problem-ﬁnding skills. Working collaboratively. Communicate and discuss complex ideas

Class flow

All classes will be taught in person on campus (5-6 Period, 13:30-15:10, 16th, 23rd Dec, 13th, 27th of Jan and 3rd of Feb, the only final session will end at 16:50). For several classes students will join the activities of the Hybrid Innovation programme alongside company employees and participate in group work (HI Practice). The instructors will offer lectures, exercises and discussion to complement the practical workshops. Classes will combine short presentations and small-scale exercises to develop skills and understanding of design and innovation practices. Each class will review progress so far and build on previous knowledge. The class is in an active-learning style focusing on participation of all members.

Course schedule/Objectives

	Course schedule	Objectives
Class 1	Introduction to the course and setting themes - introducing terms, giving examples, pooling disciplines, short exercise	Understand the integration of disciplines in research and culture, and basics of innovation theory.
Class 2	Practical workshop (HI Practice) exploring material thinking, visualization and abstraction in art and science.	Learn to develop and communicate idea as part of group work and discussion.
Class 3	Practical workshop (HI Practice) on divergent and convergent creativity.	Develop initial ideas through group work and discussion.
Class 4	Reflect on the participation in the HI Practice. Seminar on design ideation and creativity theory.	Learn basics of creativity science.
Class 5	Presentation of class assignment and discussion.	Discuss feedback and refine presentation skills.
Class 6	Practical workshop (HI Practice). Develop initial prototypes as part of group work with company employees. Combined with class 7.	Learn basics of speculative design and prototyping.

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

None

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Material for the course will be provided by the instructors.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Attendance (40%), class contribution (40%), assignment (20%)

Related courses

LAW.X316 ： Approaches to Creative Expression
ENT.G354(LAW.X314) ： Editorial Designing in the Media
ENT.G355(LAW.X315) ： Science & Engineering Design for Global Talents -Overseas Program
ENT.G455(LAW.X401) ： Science Communication for Global Talents - Overseas Programme
TSE.C317 ： Methodology of Transdisciplinary Research:theory and practice

Prerequisites

None, English

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).

salani.g.9ce1[at]m.isct.ac.jp　 Nohara lab, TSE, School of Environment and Society

Office hours

13:30-17:00

Other

Due to project requirements, activity times may vary slightly between groups. Please discuss and coordinate within each group.
Talk to us if you have a problem with the 6th session’ｓclosing time.