THEME 5: UNDERSTANDING FUTURES DESIGN TERMS

UNIT 5.3.
WORKING WITH SEMANTIC CATEGORIES

AIMS

This unit aims to:

  • engage you in working more closely with the Semantic Categories and the content of your work
  • develop a specific sense of what semantic categories are and how you can sort design futures terms 
  • work with a list of word placed in semantic categories to refine your own understanding and choices
  • inspire you to look at a diversity of related and different terms and words and identify and explore possible others

MATERIALS

TABLE OF SEMANTIC CATEGORIES (List only)
TABLE Of SEMANTIC CATEGORIES (List with words)

TIME

Less than an hour

1. WORDS CARRY MEANING

The following activities are provided to engage you in thinking further about semantic categories. The activities may be carried out in a small group, in pairs or individually.

ACTIVITY #1: DEVELOPING A DEEPER SENSE OF SEMANTIC CATEGORIES AND CONTENT

1. Think about your interests and understanding of DESIGN FUTURES LITERACIES. Make a list of 5-10 words you have met in working on your project and think you might use.

2. Go to the TABLE OF SEMANTIC CATEGORIES (List only). Motivated by your interests, select three different categories from the TABLE (there are 12 items).

3. Place your 5-10 words under these categories. Try to describe and explain what you think they mean in the context of our project.

2. WORDS AS MATERIAL

This activity allows you much more space to go into a larger set of words via the TABLE Of SEMANTIC CATEGORIES (List with words). Here there are several hundred terms that you may scan and refer to at a later stage and follow up in relation to your project or research.

ACTIVITY #2: DEVELOPING A SPECIFIC SENSE OF SEMANTIC RELATIONS

1. Refer to the TABLE OF SEMANTIC CATEGORIES (List with words). Print it out or refer to it online.

2. Study the words in each of the categories.

3. Circle the words that you see as most significant or applicable to your interests/project/work.

4. Select an additional category you see as significant for your project/course/work. Go through the listed terms.

5. Note how this category may be applied to describe, discuss and interpret your project/course/work.

6. Circle any additional terms, ones already familiar to you or ones that you see have connection to yours, and ones you had not considered or which to look into further.

Download this UNIT in printable format: 

Print Version

SEE MORE

Readings

Semantic Maps Usage for Development of Enhanced Word Meaning/Essay Writing/Literacy

Tools

Reference item.

Projects

Reference item.

Research

Reference item.

Modules

Reference item.

CONTRIBUTE TO THIS UNIT!

Future Education and Literacy for Designers (FUEL4Design) is an open project.
You are invited to contribute by presenting your own use of this UNIT as well as share feedback on this resource.

WHAT

An addition or comment to a UNIT or the use of an ESSENTIAL you see as appropriate.

WHY

Making a contribution will help connect the LEXICON to other work, innovations, settings and persons.

WHERE

Your contribution can be related to the content of the LEXICON, to the work you do or that of others.

HOW

Send your suggestions, cases, courses, projects and additions to: contactus@fuel4design.org