290106 PRS Project Seminar Geoinformation (2022W)

The subject of the project seminar is the practical and project-related exploration of a current topic in geoinformation. The seminar brings together the areas of storytelling, spatio-temporal data and design thinking (user-centred design, design sprint).

Using the Design Sprint method, an applied, structured method for creating product concepts, students work in groups of three to develop a cartographic product over the course of the semester. The scientific and thematic focus is on the visual narration of spatio-temporal data.

In five steps, students progress from idea to prototype: (1) understanding the context of users and their needs; (2) collecting ideas and sketching possible solutions; (3) deciding on the best idea and storyboarding; (4) developing a prototype of the idea; (5) testing with users.

The learning objectives are: (1) Apply theories and methods from geoinformation and geovisualisation to a practical case study. Students draw on what they have already learned in their studies as well as on newly presented topics. (2) Create and evaluate a narrative cartographic product in small groups. (3) Learning and applying methods from the field of user-centred design.

In the implementation of the projects, students are free to choose the data, technologies, methods and analyses.

The lectures are methodologically based on the five steps of the Design Sprint method and include inputs on theory (storytelling with maps and spatio-temporal data) and method (user-centred design), guided group work sessions and short presentations as well as time for free work and joint problem solving. Each group keeps a process protocol in which the progress of the project is documented from the beginning and weekly assignments are answered.