Design is multifaceted, fast moving, evolving and morphing and yet, some may argue, the profession is still built on simple, specific and unique craft skills of drawing, visualizing and prototyping. With dynamic changes taking place in design practice how does or can multidisciplinary design education absorb, reflect and present this complexity and how can we successfully make connection for design students to the contextually wider picture of societal issues within the constraints of undergraduate taught programmes.
This paper discusses, the underpinning of multidisciplinary process, identifies its value, highlights issues and demonstrates outcomes of explorations of ‘connecting’ design undergraduates on multidisciplinary 3D/product design courses at two different universities, to the wider social world through project based and peer researched learning in ‘the bigger picture’ of design and society.
The understanding from these projects looks to connect ‘design thinking’ to design skills and develop new models of design education, practice and craft as we continue to explore and promote design’s place within the world beyond a perceived veneer of aesthetics and within the realms of creating and determining products, product-systems and services that enrich life.
8th International Conference on Design Principles and Practices
This paper discusses, the underpinning of multidisciplinary process, identifies its value, highlights issues and demonstrates outcomes of explorations of ‘connecting’ design undergraduates on multidisciplinary 3D/product design courses at two different universities, to the wider social world through project based and peer researched learning in ‘the bigger picture’ of design and society.
The understanding from these projects looks to connect ‘design thinking’ to design skills and develop new models of design education, practice and craft as we continue to explore and promote design’s place within the world beyond a perceived veneer of aesthetics and within the realms of creating and determining products, product-systems and services that enrich life.
8th International Conference on Design Principles and Practices
