INTEGRATING A MULTIDISCIPLINARY DESIGN METHODS MINDSET INTO CLASSROOM PRACTICE
Year: 2017
Editor: Berg, Arild; Bohemia, Erik; Buck, Lyndon; Gulden, Tore; Kovacevic, Ahmed; Pavel, Nenad
Author: Stark, Camilla Gwendolyn; Howell, Bryan
Series: E&PDE
Institution: Brigham Young University, United States of America
Section: Student Papers related to Design Education
Page(s): 366-370
ISBN: 978-1-904670-84-1
Abstract
Sanders and Stappers (2013) propose a new interpretation of design disciplines that is not delineated by traditional fields such as industrial design, graphic design, or architecture, but by themes focusing on “people in the context of their lives” such as design for sustainability and design for well-being. Howell, Stark, et al (2016) teaches that multiple design fields may be employed in tandem to explore human centered design projects. This mindset allows for more holistic design solutions. When students are introduced to this framework, they are opened up to more flexibility in their design process and potential solutions. This paper outlines an industrial design student’s self-directed thesis project on encouraging selfcompassionate thought patterns. We will examine how the process was affected by viewing the project as a multidisciplinary design field challenge instead of a traditional form, color and material-driven industrial design challenge. Importantly, the paper will discuss how research and design methods from industrial design, graphic design, interaction design, storytelling, and psychological science played into the creation of a meaningful designed project and experience. The paper concludes with several suggestions for integrating multidisciplinary design methods into classroom practice.
Keywords: Holistic Design, Experience Design, Mixed Design Methods, Design Thinking, Human Centered Design