Mutate Design Education through Active and Contemplative Leaders.
Francesco Galli · 2023
The purpose of the traditional, undergraduate education in design and art schools is to provide students with assets of theoretical and practical skills.Acknowledging this, we argue that design education has to open-up to generation Z learners!"outside the design discipline, and has the potential to support their sense of leadership.To sustain this assumption, we present a position paper and an example from a design and creativity course for communication studies students.The course involved 3 design teachers and 68 students as well as invited guests from the industry.Firstly, we will present the theoretical background of critical thinking and its roots in philosophy and education.Secondly, we will introduce the brief, to design scenario-based communication strategies for an international company.Thirdly we will present the results of the exercise, the feedback received from the company and the results of the survey completed by the students.The discussion shows the importance of reflective analysis, and the application of the design thinking approach to the creative process.In conclusion we will show the relevance of teaching design leadership outside the #design context" and advocate for a mutated purpose of the design education, from training skilled practitioners to coaching creative design leaders to cultivate their critical abilities.