Design responsibility and sustainability in education

Abstract

Preparing students for a real-world profession is an essential element of the design education process. These students often question their abilities and power to successfully join the industry, especially when it comes to introducing innovative and sustainable design solutions. This article discusses integrating the concept of design responsibility into design education, thus instructing and encouraging students to become responsible and sustainability-oriented designers. Current research recommends inter- and multi-disciplinary learning approaches to achieve such integration, further arguing for the value of teaching design responsibility in inspiring design students to adopt sustainable design thinking as a means of improving the industry. Responsible design solutions should follow a logical, sequential process to create healthy, functional, comfortable, and sustainable designs without compromising aesthetic factors-all while meeting the client’s needs, budget, schedule, and design vision.