Design education relates to the broad range of disciplines providing the platform for building skills sets, professionalism and moulding them to set the stage of future development. Design institutes have set a platform working collaboratively to develop design minds and practising soft skills.Academicians understand the role of a designer which necessitates design thinking, leading them to the innovative practice and successful delivery.
In today’s world design learning has not limited to traditional curriculum. It is beyond the mastering of tools and technology. More about deeper understanding of new concepts which are visually stimulating, technologically challenging, and sustainable. The unexpected transition to digital platform needed a no break continuation in limited time span, but it was a realization stage for self-development and upgradation. Many short duration online learning programmes appeared focusing on specialized topics and skill building. This have given the global access to the specialized courses which even educators were dreaming to opt. Design institutes now have to revise their strategy assuring that they are delivering an uncompromised syllabus with globally recognised challenges.
Truly it is challenging phase for design educators to tackle with emerging problems during the pandemic. Students are missing their big classrooms, huge resources, happening campus life and exciting design culture. Sudden transition phase of virtual classrooms with limited or no resources have questioned the effectiveness of programme to some extent. On the other hand, these digital classrooms have also boosted the experimentation and exploration which is an integral part of some design courses like fashion and communication. These design fields have no set path and can follow multiple pathways. Challenges were set following current industrial needs and complications to achieve in spite of several conditions. Moving forward with uncertainty design education can be more effective and experiential with cross disciplinary challenges. Program delivery can be broader than the routine curriculumas well as effectively contributing to design learning.
The next thing in design education is modern learning approach with variety of pedagogies, lot of formal and informal discussions debates and quiz with mentors. More challenging task need to be set with self-initiated explorative learning. Research phase can be broader with opting alternative techniques. And elaborate conceptual stage can be explored considering the efficiency of design.
Technical learning can have a lot of planned and pre-recorded demos but the challenging activities which can be more flexible and experiential. Students can be given access to other digital resources like Journals, publications, or digital libraries. There can be more worldwide guest interactions which can expands student’s thinking and design perspective. Channelized company tie-upscan be initiated to pull in employment opportunities not bothering about the duration of employment, because these industry briefs will have a positive impact and can give more hands on experience which is beyond studio classes. Many can focus on studio learning practices and the process of making will need mentoring and assistance with some offline interactions. Specialised facilities can slowly be resume back with socially distance learning.
Students can take advantage of the digitally available resources which can be accessed any time from anywhere in the world. There can be lot of interactions exchanging social thoughts and views regarding ethical practices. One has seen the benefit of Digital classroom interactions which has enabled students getting well versed with virtual space. Different presentations platforms can be opted by both students and tutors. Optimistic feedback and critique sessions can be practiced often for project building and development. Assignments can be evaluated based on risk taken and creative thoughts behind it.
Imagining the long-term effect of this pandemic the future learning is going to be a remote learning to some extent but will be more organised enjoyable with your own pace courses. Overall, there is a new opportunity to create on educational experience with a hybrid learning.
Author – SONALI BRID,
Assistant Professor, ITM/ IDM
