---
# System prepended metadata

title: Communication (Sylabus) MDEF 20/21 - PRE COURSE
tags: [Fab Lab Barcelona, MDEF, Future Learning Unit, FLU]

---

---
title: Communication (Sylabus) MDEF 20/21 - PRE COURSE
description: Precourse
Autors: Kate, Marcel
---

###### tags: `MDEF` `FLU` `Future Learning Unit` `Fab Lab Barcelona`

[TOC]

# MDEF PRECOURSE 20/21 - Communication(Sylabus)

## SHORT DESCRIPTION
This module will help you get up to speed with the basic communication skills that you will use to communicate your ideas during the Master and beyond. We will look at the basics of communication and design through learning simple processes, presentation techniques and narrative structures, and tools to help you through the process. 
The main objective is to give you fundamental skills and concepts to help you think like a communicator, in order to present the best version of yourself and your ideas.


### Methodology
Theoretical and practical classes to introduce students to the basics of communication. 

The classes will provide skill-development through hands-on tasks and learning.

Students will learn methods of communication used in their studies including: 
Presentation skills, writing styles and platforms.



## SCHEDULE

### Friday 18th 9.00 - 13.00

### Tuesday 22nd - 10.00 - 14.00

### Wednesday 23rd - 10.00 - 14.00



## MODULES 

### What, How and When. (Theoretical)
In which instances do you use which communication processes and how can you identify which platform, process or narrative structure to use when?

### Make graphic and print content
Bring your idea to life with graphic and print design basics. This class will take you through simple processes, tips and tools including open source and paid software such as Photoshop. 

### Make video and photographic content
Documenting and presenting your ideas through the lens is more than point and shoot. Learn simple tools, including free online software to help you present the best version of your work.


## TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

### Laptop Requirements
A laptop with working internet connection
A smartphone with camera and video capacity and space to download apps.

### Software Requirements
If possible Adobe Photoshop installed (you can use the trial version for the class)
A Google Drive account

## FACULTY
Kate Armstrong. 
Design and Communicaiton Lead - Fab Lab Barcelona
kate@fablabbcn.org

Marcel Rodriguez
Creative Strategy at Fab lab Barcelona
Marcel.Rodriguez@fablabbcn.org



---

Are we recording?

# WHAT, HOW and WHEN
This is a theoretical class :-)

### **INTRO**

**Fab Lab Barcelona Design and Communication.** 
Multiplatform media and communication design to support dissemination and outreach of research, innovation, design and education developed at Fab Lab Barcelona.

https://fablabbcn.org/

##### Education

###### MDEF

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ta-3B1uNmg8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

###### Fabricademy
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RtBYWS2txjs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

###### Student Content
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/48Tfl7fvPx4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

##### Design

- https://fablabbcn.org/resources/design-remix-share-repeat
- https://distributeddesign.eu/

![](https://i.imgur.com/1FmomHI.jpg)


##### Research

- Reflow 
https://reflowproject.eu/
https://drive.google.com/drive/search?q=reflow%20brand

- FoodSHIFT 2030
https://foodshift2030.eu/

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3IHT56KLyaU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>


- Smart Citizen
https://smartcitizen.me/
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pAUvh1aY-oY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCLp1cNjH-j/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCLp1cNjH-j/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCLp1cNjH-j/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">💬 During lockdown ”we were breathing the same air in Barcelona that you could breathe when you go to the countryside”. 🗣 Check out this Future Talks LIVE with Research Lead Guillem Camprodon and Hardware &amp; Software Developer Oscar González from @fablabbcn talking about how noise pollution decreased using data from their @smartcitizenkit. 💬 Future Talks is a series of conversations with friends of Fab Lab Barcelona, exploring the nature of emerging futures from past to the present and beyond. 📢 #emergingfutures #future #futuretalks #fablabbcn #smartcitizen #smartcitizenkit #video #interview #conversation #quarantineactivities #covid19 #education #opensource #barcelona #innovation #year2020 #live #digitalfabrication #techforgood #design</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fablabbcn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Fab Lab Barcelona</a> (@fablabbcn) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2020-07-03T14:13:23+00:00">Jul 3, 2020 at 7:13am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

# COMMUNICATION

#### What is Communication?

<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSftQkGrhUFemwxC7NQ1GsUW8qCy97WZ4Ott-uZ-J-WjaQsKceXKhOVxKNqOP7I6Io18bu1k7qCTPUx/embed?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000" frameborder="0" width="1280" height="749" allowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true"></iframe>

Broadcast vs Participatory 

![](https://i.imgur.com/T2hyp9Y.png)


## Message


<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSUWFax5QiFzD09jHIlKh7e9Z3x6vFir2i4UaOnzAaY57l_mtoojSfQT1sLh1lw4u5xtcNsoWL5D_yg/embed?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000" frameborder="0" width="1280" height="749" allowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true"></iframe>

#### WHO: Audience

Content: https://app.gitbook.com/@flbcn/s/communication-handbook/who-your-audience/define-your-audience

<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSyJHGuEGsXUtG-k6TwNlAoNzbofTE_M2J1bH-npMcqqgu0qEwyff0nNxw3FcG2PK_WJ57tdeXDEV0P/embed?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000" frameborder="0" width="1280" height="749" allowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true"></iframe>



## Medium
How are you going to tell them?

https://app.gitbook.com/@flbcn/s/communication-handbook/how-channels-and-actions/channels-and-actions

#### Online

Website, social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram), forums, content delivery platforms, etc

#### Offline
Local media, printed media (posters, flyers, brochures, etc), press releases, presentations, events (meetings, conferences, workshops, etc)

#### Identify channels and audiences.

![](https://i.imgur.com/DGY0Idi.png)


Content: https://app.gitbook.com/@flbcn/s/communication-handbook/how-channels-and-actions/channels-and-actions

![](https://i.imgur.com/zz6hhvM.png)

### **ACTIVITY**
https://www.crs.org/sites/default/files/crs-files/communication-toolbox-template-develop-a-communication-plan.pdf

![](https://i.imgur.com/Nlth644.png)



## Considerations: Bias, Lens, Representation

#### Receiver/Sender bias 

Variables (SMCR Model)
- Communication Skills
- Attitude - towards the audience/environment/subject
- Knowledge (familiarity)
- Social system
- Culture


Inclusive Communication
https://app.gitbook.com/@flbcn/s/communication-handbook/beyond-stakeholders/make-your-content-accessible/inclusivity

##### Sociocultral considerations
- Symbols - A symbol, something that carries meaning to people who share a culture, is broadly understood and used so frequently that it does not require explanation.
- Values - Cultural values are moral understandings that are widely held in a society. They encompass what most people in a society consider to be right or wrong.
- Beliefs - Cultural beliefs are ideas that members of the culture hold to be true and are rooted in the shared values of the culture.
- Norms - A norm is a cultural expectation for behavior.

**What does red mean to you?**
<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/xT0GqimU9dTwmE5lra" width="480" height="480" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/art-zolloc-hayden-zezula-xT0GqimU9dTwmE5lra">via GIPHY</a></p>

**What gender is the Moon?**
<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/aN9GqoR7OD3nq" width="480" height="480" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/moon-video-from-aN9GqoR7OD3nq">via GIPHY</a></p>

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis: linguistical specificites help shape the way cultures think about the world. 


#### Lens and Framing
A **social lens** refers to how a person views a given situation. 
- Lens can be used to empathically view a situation from another perspective.
Feminist, heteronormative, queer, race, socioeconomic.
- Framing uses media to position a particular idea in a certain way to evoke a desirable response in audiences. 


#### Representation 
Who and How are we representing?
- The complicity between "speaking for" and "portraying" must be kept in mind.

![](https://i.imgur.com/g2j7dOK.jpg)


![](https://i.imgur.com/9WWmuK2.png)![](https://i.imgur.com/viF0pVe.png)


Female representation in media: 

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/women-film-representation-female-protagonists-2018-mans-celluloid-world-study-a8786616.html

https://www.bustle.com/style/effortless-upgrades-from-the-queer-eye-home-collection-at-walmart

https://www.wired.com/story/e3-2019-female-representation-videogames/

Spivak and Siad - Post-Colonial Studies
https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/postcolonialstudies/2014/06/21/representation/


### **COFFEE BREAK**

### Code

#### Branding

Content: https://app.gitbook.com/@flbcn/s/communication-handbook/whats-a-brand

Your project, deployment, intervention, pilot or lab needs a brand.
![](https://i.imgur.com/MgbTYE4.png)
**Vision**
The final destination of your project, pilot, lab, intervention. The future.
- What change do you want to make?
- For whom?
- What problem do you want to solve?
- What would success look like?
An example from Habitat for Humanity: 'A world where everyone has a decent place to live.'

**Mission**
The roadmap of your project, pilot, lab, intervention. The present.
- What you’re going to do 
- How you’re going to do it 
- Whom you’re doing it for or with
- What values are driving your actions.
An example from NPR radio in the US: 'to create a more informed public, one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and culture within the United States and across the globe.'

https://app.gitbook.com/@flbcn/s/communication-handbook/brand-elements

### **ACTIVITY**

![](https://i.imgur.com/YALu5Xr.jpg)


#### Presentations

'Elevator' Pitch
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/elevator-pitch.htm

### **ACTIVITY**
Your fight pitch - tell me why I should care

- Start with who you are.
- Write about what you care about and why.
- Explain what you want to do about it and what makes you unique to do it.

- Edit what you’ve written. Erase sentences that are too long or unclear. Leave those that sound the way you speak.

**First person presentation.**

Focus of the Master is on first-person presentation.
Narrative, storytelling, inspiring, engaging.
Prefers video or engaging content.

https://www.pageflow.io/en/
https://prezi.com/
https://www.google.com/slides/about/
[Hackastory](https://tools.hackastory.com/)

https://www.ted.com/playlists/574/how_to_make_a_great_presentation

<div style="max-width:854px"><div style="position:relative;height:0;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://embed.ted.com/talks/nancy_duarte_the_secret_structure_of_great_talks" width="854" height="480" style="position:absolute;left:0;top:0;width:100%;height:100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>


#### Written Communications

**Writing styles**

- narrative
- persuasive
- descriptive
- expository/documentary

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/types-of-writing-techniques

Concept Statement
https://www.emotivebrand.com/concept-statement/

Abstract
https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/writing-an-abstract#:~:text=An%20abstract%20is%20a%20150,you%20discuss%20in%20the%20paper.


# Q&A and Feedback

