EXPLORING FIRST YEAR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN STUDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING OF SUB-TOPICS IN DESIGN THINKING
Year: 2024
Editor: Grierson, Hilary; Bohemia, Erik; Buck, Lyndon
Author: Fan, Yun; Zhang, Yang; Bohemia, Erik
Series: E&PDE
Institution: Shandong University of Arts and Design, China; Nanjing University of the Arts, China; Shandong University of Arts and Design, China | Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway
Page(s): 270 - 275
DOI number: 10.35199/EPDE.2024.46
ISBN: 978-1-912254-200
ISSN: 3005-4753
Abstract
This study reports on what tool and methods design major students use to discover, define and solve design problems. The site of this study is Design Thinking and Methods, a compulsory course for first-year Chinese design majors. The teaching goal of this course is to cultivate students’ design thinking practice and innovation ability. Firstly, this paper reviews the definitions of design problems and design thinking through literature. Secondly, it outlines students’ understanding of design thinking and design problem solving. Then these concepts are analysed to explore similarities and differences among 220 students. Finally, students design project are classified in relation to students’ attention in different stages of design activities. The study found that most students can find design problems, but often they are unable to identify the nature of the design problems, which then leads to inappropriate design solution.
Keywords: Creativity, ill-structure Problem, Design Thinking, Design Method