Cognitive and Psychological Foundations for Product Design

This IPD programme course explores the cognitive and psychological foundations essential for designing user-centred products and systems, both digital and physical. Aiming to bridge theory and practice, it offers a deep dive into how humans perceive, process, remember, and interact with the world—knowledge that is vital for designing intuitive and usable products.

The course is structured around weekly thematic blocks, each providing:

1. A theoretical foundation based on cognitive science and psychology,

2. Practical methods for assessment and application, and

3. Reflection on design methods and/or case studies and special interest cases inspired by emerging trends and technologies.

Topics range from foundational models like human information processing, sensory perception, attention, and memory to more complex processes like learning, motivation, and decision-making.

By the end of the course, students will have a good understanding of how cognitive mechanisms shape user experience. They will be equipped to design both physical and digital products that are more usable, intuitive, and aligned with human capabilities and limitations.

The study goals of this course will be assessed by an individual written exam (100%)

Summative:

• Final Exam, 100% of final grade

Formative:

• Short weekly online quizzes (15 min estimated workload max) function as self-assessment and maintenance rehearsal (formative). The quizzes will be a mix of different question-answer formats, including but not limited to multiple choice (with automated feedback) and open-ended questions (self-evaluation against answer example and/or rubric).