RE-EVALUATING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS TO NURTURE STUDIO CULTURE

Abstract

Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant remote teaching that lockdown enforced the requirements and suitability of physical learning spaces such as studios can be questioned. This paper seeks to understand the requirements of students in this decade of their physical studio spaces. Using focus groups, surveys and user feedback activities students on the Product Design programme were asked to evaluate the studio spaces within the university as they returned to on-campus learning and provide qualitative feedback on their experiences. It was found students still require physical studios that allow them to undertake their design work and utilise tools and the space in a way they are unable to in other learning and domestic environments. Most importantly students require a space that allows them to understand and conceptualise project work, engage in discipline-specific discourse and feel a sense of ownership to encourage creative thinking.