As the new frontier of Space exploration is becoming open to commercial travel, a new industry is being created as we speak. The manner in which we are going to proceed into space is presently under development. This workshop is an introduction to design issues in this new and exciting territory. The students will be introduced to key design questions, industry leaders and stakeholders. Adjacent industries, such as film production and theme park design, will be introduced in addition to off world travel. We will discuss designing for zero gravity and extreme environments keeping in mind successful human outcomes. The class will employ design thinking while looking towards creative and sustainable solutions. Students will produce a design prompt and/or quick ideations based on presentations and discussion in order to anchor their interests and possible new directions.

12 hours

• Basic understanding and/or interest in product design and architectural principles.
• Previous experience with graphic software is a plus but not necessary.
• Imagination and ability to project into the future will be helpful.

1. Students will be able to discuss state of space industry as it relates to design and the scientific and technological trends informing it.
2. Students will acquire strategies to implement research and development of new concepts in Space Experience Design
3. Students will be enabled to form critical connections between technological phenomena and design processes
4. Students will create ideations of possible solutions for extreme environments

Space Experience Design (6 Day)

We will setup the basis for what we mean by Space Experience Design in the context of human-centered design. We will also discuss adjacent industries of film set and theme park design as they relate to space travel design. Students will discuss their experience with space design and their vision of the future of this industry.

2 Hours

Key issues in designing for zero gravity and off world environments will be discussed. They will include temperature differential, solar glare, radiation and solar flares, meteors and space debris, orbital mechanics, as well as movement and physical issues in 0G.

2 Hours

Self-sustainability strategies will be introduced along with a number of existing sustainable technologies addressing the difficulties of space travel. Students will be introduced to a number of solutions that may be useful in design. This is going to be followed by a discussion and identification of key issues.

2 Hours

The challenges of human psychology in extreme environments will be introduced. We will look at existing solutions and areas needing improvement. Long duration space flights as well as payload constraints are some examples of the themes.

2 Hours

Students will identify an area of interest and justify their choice in terms of need and feasibility. Based on this information, they will create a design prompt. Then, they will ideate quick design solutions. We will discuss them as a class with the aim of picking a final direction. Rendering skills will be helpful however not required since the primary focus is on ideas.

2 Hours

We will discuss students’ ideations and possible solutions in the context of existing industry applications. The designs will be discussed in terms of their feasibility, sustainability and creativity. Future directions will be suggested.

2 Hours

Blanka Deroko, Ph.D. is a Los Angeles based designer, multimedia artist, educator and entrepreneur. For over 20 years, she has provided visionary strategies, pioneering new products, services and technologies through hands-on design and management as well as authored information technology and media content. She is a public speaker and researcher in areas spanning digital media, human experience design, human computer interaction, art and technology and space travel. As a storyteller and experience architect she creates liminal environments on the intersection of human and technology to transform and empower people. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and conference proceedings while her work has been exhibited and broadcasted internationally.