This is a case study of design education
for secondary school students through design workshops in the basic curriculum
at a school in Japan. There was a renovation plan for a 30-years-old school
building, and the education board of the town wished to make the new school
much nicer and childfriendly for learning environments. The board asked design
professionals to become involved and
organized some workshops for students. Eight
workshops were held during one and a half years. Workshops were
designed for Eighth graders who had no
design training, based on the basic skills of
design; sketching, collage, measurement own body scale and use
them. Gradually it was extended to further
skills and knowledge including
brainstorming, discussion, and presentation skills. At the end,
students designed three kinds of
multi-purposed units and the process of workshops was awarded the “Kids Design award 2012”, and
the “Good Design Award 2012”.
DesignED Asia 2012 Conference
