DESIGN STUDIO AND SEMINARS

The Urban Reading Term focuses on the development of a framework to critically analyse data, understand the complexities of urban environments, and utilise advanced tools to create meaningful visual representations and urban or territorial strategies. Students will be introduced to the principles of urban computation, coding, and analytics; theories of the urban; emerging social economies; contemporary digital cultures, and design principles for innovative urban environments..

TERM 1 COURSES:

• Intro Workshop – Landing in Barcelona – Urban Analysis & Data Mapping (run by Program Alumni)
• Design Research Studio – Urban Reading – Digital Cartographies, Mapping Urban Complexity in the Anthropocene (13 ECTS)
• Urban Computation Seminar – Python for Urban Analytics; Digital Cultures (8 ECTS)
• Urban Environments Seminar – Co-creating public spaces; Designing for more than humans (4 ECTS)
• Urban Communities Seminar – Emerging Economies (2 ECTS)
• Urban Theories Seminar – Theories of the Urban I (2 ECTS)

NOTE: Design Studio and Seminars of Term 1 are obligatory.

DESIGN STUDIOS AND SEMINARS

The Urban Empowerment Term focuses on the development of data-driven and participatory design approaches, through the development of creative and critical tools to enable designing with non-experts, placemaking, and a more sensitive approach to human-nature relationships. Students will learn how to use AI tools to process and synthesize different media using Generative AI processes for images and text, including SD pipelines and LLMs agents. This shall lead to novel processes to empower communities and gather data for sustainable, open, and user-driven urban environments.

TERM 2 COURSES:

• Design Research Studio – Urban Empowerment – Creative Data Analytics for Community-Centred Design (15 ECTS)
• Urban Computation Seminars – Digital Tools for Investigative Methodologies I; Agent-Based Design & Machine Learning I (6 ECTS)
• Urban Environment Seminars – Apps for Citizens; Transitional Landscapes (4 ECTS)
• Urban Communities Seminar – Serious Games (2 ECTS)
• Urban Theories Seminar – Theories of the Urban II (2 ECTS)

NOTE: Design Studio and Seminars of Term 2 are obligatory.

DESIGN STUDIO AND SEMINARS

The Urban Vulnerabilities Term focuses on leveraging data and evidence-based processes to support vulnerable communities and environments in planning and designing just and equitable urban spaces, transportation systems, housing, and policies. This includes developing tools and designing strategies for spatial equity, determining bias in data and consequent data collection campaigns for impartial data, and developing designs for inclusive urban spaces. Students also continue with AI tools to process and synthesize different media using Generative AI processes for images and text, including SD pipelines and LLMs agents

TERM 3 COURSES:

• Design Research Studio – Urban Vulnerabilities – Novel methodologies for Data Analytics towards intersectionality inclusive and more than human cities (15 ECTS)
• Urban Computation Seminars – Digital Tools for Investigative Methodologies II; Agent-Based Design & Machine Learning II (6 ECTS)
• Urban Environments Seminars – Innovative Urban Futures; Urban Panopticons (4 ECTS)
• Urban Communities Seminar – Web maps & urban storytelling (2 ECTS)
• Urban Theories Seminar – Theories of the Urban III (2 ECTS)

NOTE: Design Studio and Seminars of Term 3 are obligatory

Throughout all three terms, the Master in Advanced Urban Planning & Data Analytics offers a holistic educational experience that extends beyond the classroom. In addition to rigorous academic coursework, we place great emphasis on providing students with enriching extracurricular activities. These activities include a series of site and industry visits that allow our students to directly engage with the dynamic and ever-evolving urban environments they study. These visits offer invaluable real-world insights and the opportunity to interact with professionals, practitioners, and cutting-edge technologies in the field of urban planning and technology. Through masterclasses and lectures, they will be presented with the challenges and learnings of professionally engaging with real case applications. All classes throughout all the terms are obligatory.

• IAAC Lecture Series (2 ECTS)
• Site & Industry visits (extracurricular activities)

During the first phase of the second year, students start the initial steps of their Individual Thesis research development: contextualizing the research, identifying the knowledge gap, and developing the pathway for the research project’s development. Students will work in Thesis Clusters, supported by Advisors from Academia and Partners from Practice throughout the year, helping them to develop innovative and meaningful work. The first term has complementary courses, focused on Research Methodology, Content Workshops, and Industry & Applied Research.

TERM 1 COURSES:

• Thesis Cluster – Advanced Urban Design Thesis Cluster (18 ECTS – full year)
• Theory Seminar (2 ECTS – full year)
• Content Workshop (2 ECTS – full year)
• Industry and Applied Research (4 ECTS – full year)

In parallel to the Thesis Cluster sessions that continue on from the first term, students continue with Research Methodology, Industry & applied and research and will be introduced to advanced computational seminars furthering the skills they acquired in the 1st year. Within the thesis, students go deeper into scientific exploration, testing and prototyping their Individual Research projects to verify and consolidate their content and contribution.

TERM 2 COURSES:

• Thesis Cluster – Advanced Urban Design Thesis Cluster (18 ECTS – full year)
• Theory Seminar (2 ECTS – full year)
• Industry and Applied Research (4 ECTS – full year)
• Advanced Computation and Tooling Seminars (4 ECTS – full year)

This phase is focused on and structured around the development of the final design proposals, consolidating any tools, graphic content, or prototypes related to the Individual Thesis in preparation for its final discussion. The final presentation and defense of the Master’s Thesis takes place before a jury panel at the end of June. Additional support sessions are organised to support the development and quality of the final deliverables.

TERM 3 COURSES:

• Thesis Cluster – Advanced Urban Design Thesis Cluster (18 ECTS – full year)
• Theory Seminar (2 ECTS – full year)
• Advanced Computation and Tooling Seminars (4 ECTS – full year)

The final phase of the programme takes place over the summer and does not include in-person classes, allowing students to focus entirely on developing the complete written document or book for their Thesis Project. The final submission requires two printed copies of the thesis and may also include the publication of a scientific paper.
his phase is focused on and structured around the development of the final design proposals, consolidating any tools, graphic content, or prototypes related to the Individual Thesis in preparation for its final discussion. The final presentation and defense of the Master’s Thesis takes place before a jury panel at the end of June. Additional support sessions are organised to support the development and quality of the final deliverables.