Product Design for Human-Robot Interaction

During the programme, students will delve into the impact of aesthetics on humans’ ability to trust robots and how semtiotics and anthropology factors play a key role in defining the modalities and outcomes of these interactions.

They will learn how to define the aesthetic body of robots as everyday objects through project work completed by lessons dealing with technology applications, design definition, cognitive user experience, aesthetic language, and critical analysis of the human-robot relationship.

Participants will also be challenged with robotic-based company projects from a given brief to concept definition and product development, preparing the relevant technical documentation and a professional visual presentation.

Students will work as junior designers led by a mentor as their “art director”, and supported by teachers in defining specific aspects of their project and subsequent implications.

Define and plan what robots will – or should - look like, combining aesthetic languages with cognitive requirements Implement robotic functions and design language in defining a robot’s functional structure Specify a robot’s semiotic features and define its affordances to foster empathy with users and integrate it into everyday environments Deeply understand – and take advantage of – the cultural, anthropological and sociological implications connected to the development and design of human-robot interactions