Designer Profile Model : A Mentor's Tool for Understanding the Design Persona of Mature Students
Päivi-Maria Jaatinen · Theseus (Ammattikorkeakoulujen) · 2010
This article serves as the development project report of vocational teacher education. The article, introducing the Designer Profile Model (DPM), was developed from the experience gained as an art and design researcher and educator. It has a theoretical background due to previous studies in the research methodology of art and design and an empirical dimension based on the practical use of the model in university education. The model is rationalized through two perspectives: 1) The typical university role of artist teachers that requires enabling teacher strategies, 2) The need for personalized mentoring in mature design student's degree supervision. To begin with, the specific area of the educator's role in mature student's design degree education is introduced. The global contemporary design situation is discussed in reference to the requirements it sets to the design education. Secondly, in order to understand the reasoning of the model, the special problems of artist teachers, who work in a dual role in higher art and design education is discussed. Several researchers contrast the worls of creative innovation and rules of education. Sometimes the transformation from a designer or artist to a teacher can mean a long identity process. Thus, a novel, enabling horizon for teaching is needed. Thirdly , the enabling teaching strategy is outlined. It is understanding oneself as a co-operative and professional mentor of other members of the creative industries. In order to specify what mentoring means, a definition of mentoring and a list of characteristics of design mentoring in higher education is introduced. Finally, to make the mentor's work more efficient right from the beginning, the Designer Profile Model is introduced. The model can advance the mentor's understanding of the design student's mindset, skills and previous professionalism. The model is noteworthy from several perspectives. Possible practical usage of the model is the design mentoring situation in higher education. The mentor can also design and manage her mentoring more sufficiently. In addition to that, the Designer Profile Model can be used as a self-education tool. As such it can show the strengths and areas requiring development for design students and professionals and offer a clear structure for reflecting continuous professional development.