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Design responsibility and sustainable design as reflective practice: an educational challenge
Author(s) -
Leerberg Malene,
Riisberg Vibeke,
Boutrup Joy
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
sustainable development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.115
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1099-1719
pISSN - 0968-0802
DOI - 10.1002/sd.481
Subject(s) - curriculum , sustainability , sustainable design , engineering ethics , design education , power (physics) , learning design , value (mathematics) , design thinking , sustainable development , knowledge management , engineering management , sociology , computer science , psychology , pedagogy , mathematics education , engineering , business , political science , human–computer interaction , ecology , physics , quantum mechanics , machine learning , advertising , law , biology
An important element in design education is to prepare students for the reality of the profession. Often these students question their ability and power to influence industry and commerce, especially when it comes to proposing innovative and sustainable solutions. This paper discusses how the notion of design responsibility can be integrated in design education, describing ways of training and encouraging students to become responsible and sustainability‐oriented designers. Using examples from the curriculum of the Kolding School of Design in Denmark, we make a case for employing both practice‐based and theory‐based learning approaches to promote a critical and reflective design practice. Furthermore, we argue for the value of teaching design responsibility to imbue design students with the knowledge and confidence that sustainable design thinking and the designer can make a difference. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.