Course Introduction

Welcome to the world of geodesign!

This course is intended to be an introduction to the conceptual framework and procedural workflows that guide geodesign in practice. Merriam-Webster defines a framework as “a basic structure underlying a system or concept”. Similarly, a workflow is defined as “the sequence of processes through which a piece of work passes from initiation to completion”. As such we will be focusing on fundamental concepts and procedures. We will only briefly introduce technical tools and analysis techniques, often in the form of case studies, as a means of enhancing your understanding of those concepts.

This course will expose you to three different conceptual frameworks and procedural workflows typically associated with geodesign:

The Steinitz Framework is the most well-established conceptual framework for geodesign, and forms the foundation of other studio courses you may take in Penn State’s Geodesign certificate or MPS program. Therefore, we will devote more time to understanding the Steinitz approach. The geodesign workflow and LUCIS model run parallel to Steinitz’s approach, and have been included to enhance your understanding of his framework.

In a series of exercises, you will perform a comparative study by viewing a place and problem of your choosing through the lens of each of each framework or workflow. For your final project, you will choose one method to expand upon to design a geodesign study aimed at solving the problem. We will explore each of these in more detail starting in the next module. 

In addition to weekly assignments (exercises), you will be expected to participate in continuous dialogue with your colleagues on our weekly discussion board. You are encouraged to bring your own perspectives, experiences and questions about course topics, each others work, or geodesign in general into the conversation. Please be sure to respond to this week's prompt: "What is geodesign" to get the discussion roling.