Introducing New Design Disciplines into a Traditional Industrial Design Program
DS 85-2: Proceedings of NordDesign 2016, Volume 2, Trondheim, Norway, 10th - 12th August 2016
Year: 2016
Editor: Boks, Casper; Sigurjonsson, Johannes; Steinert, Martin; Vis, Carlijn; Wulvik, Andreas
Author: Howell, Bryan F.; Stark, Camilla Gwendolyn; Christiansen, Tyler James; Hofstrand, Ryan Hunter; Pettit, Janae Lois; Van Slooten, Samantha Nieves; Willett, Kathryn Joyce
Series: NordDESIGN
Institution: Brigham Young University, United States of America
Section: Educational Perspectives
Page(s): 208-215
ISBN: 978-1-904670-80-3
Abstract
The disciplines of design and design research are rapidly transforming. Sanders and Stappers (2013) illustrate how traditional design disciplines focused on product are being replaced with emerging disciplines focusing on “people in the context of their lives.” As an industry veteran and experienced design educator, I am well versed in the traditional method of effectively making consumer-oriented objects, but in the rapidly evolving world of contemporary design this expertise seemingly becomes less relevant each year. This paper reviews the quiet reframing of our sponsored third year industrial design studio course to explore aspects of emerging design disciplines, sharing five student projects that demonstrate the natural evolution in mindset from product-oriented to context-oriented problem definitions. Finally, it discusses how these emerging disciplines align with the values of the millennial generation and the importance educators include training in new disciplines to remain relevant in the contemporary design world.
Keywords: Millennial, Service Design, Transformation Design, Experience Design, Sustainable Design