DEC at AIGA Design Conference 2007: Next

The 2007 AIGA Design Conference, Next, focused on just that: "what's the future of design?" As a community of design educators, AIGA DEC plays an important role in the shaping of the future of the practice. Following are the DEC-programmed affinity sessions (with podcasts for each):

How Does Design Research Impact Design Practice? Sharon Poggenpohl, professor of design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University; and Liz Sanders, president, MakeTools, LLC; moderated by Meredith Davis, director, graduate and PhD programs, North Carolina State University. What is the role of design research, and of university design programs, in the evolving profession of the 21st century? How is research different from creative practice? And what is "worth doing" among all the possible areas for investigation in the emerging design research culture? This panel will address the growing need for new knowledge as the design profession matures and seeks new areas of influence. Listen to their presentation now!

K-12: Where Design Thinking Begins Daarina Abdus-Samad, teacher, Norma Coombs Middle School in Pasadena, CA; Meredith Davis, director, graduate and PhD programs, North Carolina State University; and Doreen Nelson, director, Center for City Building Education (CBE) and professor, California State Polytechnic University; moderated by Steve Hartman, president, Creativille. The education that produces a designer is well-matched to the demands on all adults in the 21st century: creative thinking, problem solving, seeing things in the mind's eye, and the effective use of technology, resources and information. Design education can provide a roadmap for K-12 curricula that leads to essential competencies and thinking skills, regardless of the subject area. Listen to their presentation now!

Letting Go of 20th Century Models for Design Education Rafael Fajardo, director, digital dedia studies, University of Denver; Santiago Piedrafita, chair, Department of Graphic Design, North Carolina State University; and Holly Willis, associate director, Institute for Multimedia Literacy, University of Southern California; moderated by Barbara Sudick, associate professor, communication design, California State University. Design is becoming increasingly complex. Is it time to let go of curricular and pedagogical models that begin with simple concepts and to build slowly and progressively towards new models? This session will examine what's next for design education in the 21st century, including cross-disciplinary and collaborative work. Listen to their presentation now!

How Should Design Education Prepare Students for a Future of Change Bill Buxton, researcher and designer, Microsoft; and Hugh Dubberly, founder, Dubberly Design office. During the last 30 years, the growing presence of computers and the internet has changed the context of design. New types of jobs have emerged as designers reinvent practice. Both how we design and what we design are substantially different than they were a generation ago. What will the next generation's designers face over the course of their working lives? Today's trends will continue. Processors are still getting smaller and faster. Computers and sensors are included in more and more products. And soon, almost everything will be on the network, while the network itself gets faster. In addition to the changes we can predict, we should expect some we cannot imagine yet. How should we respond to the changes of the last generation and those of the next? What does preparation for practice mean in a world where the future constantly changes? What can a design education provide that will endure? Listen to their presentation now!

Posted by designeducators in Events | November 25, 2007