Managing design and ergonomics at the macro level – the design policies

Abstract

This paper brings an overview of a part of a proposed Course of Managing Design and Ergonomics (from macro to micro levels that we assume to be a desirable elective course to the Design Doctoral Program at the Faculty of the author, from the University of the author. Thus, the paper will explore specifically the approach to be done to the management of Design and Ergonomics within it at the Macro level. The knowledge on these issues allows students to have a broader perspective on its management, one that includes the design (and within it ergonomics) participation and impact in terms of national and global strategies. Until know the academic approach to these issues is done by Design Management and ergonomics management as separated issues that are strictly focused on the business level and sometimes it expands themselves to the project management (what is known as “operational level” at the business design management stage). With the proposed approach to the curricular unit we hope to enrich students’ perception and knowledge about design and ergonomics influence in the world and the way it can be planned, monitored and evaluated at distinct stages of its intervention. The main reasons behind the choice of this topic are: (a) the fact that the contents to be taught in this context normally are not disseminated in Design Education; (b) the circumstance that this is a PhD course in which broader approaches and understandings are necessary to support better framing and critical perspectives about the Design discipline its relationship with ergonomics and its intervention in the world.