Untangling the culture medium of student designers

Strickfaden, Megan; Heylighen, A; Rodgers, Paul; Neuckermans, H

Abstract

Designs do not occur in a vacuum. They are nourished by a breeding ground composed of various substances, phenomena and traces, which function as raw material for concept generation and ultimately for design. This paper examines the composition and function of this `culture medium' in the context of design education through reporting two content-wise connected studies: a series of in-depth interviews with experienced design tutors, and an ethnographically oriented study with design students. Combining and comparing information gathered in both studies reveals some interesting insights about what `culture media' are valued by tutors and students.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2006
• Deposit Date: Jan 25, 2008
• Journal: CoDesign
• Print ISSN: 1571-0882
• Electronic ISSN: 1745-3755
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 02
• Pages: 97-107
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15710880600647865
• Keywords: Design process; Influences; Cultural Influences; Environmental Influences; Design education
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/2332
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15710880600647865