Design education at the cross-roads of change

Abstract

The paper advocates for designer immersion while deploying design research methods and design leadership within teamwork. Design educators need to prepare students to take on these roles with confidence, while working at the crossroads between business, culture, design and ergonomics, as well as other specialties according to the nature of the problem at hand. Are there ways design education can support individuals in valuing their uniqueness and transforming their passion and drive into competitive advantage? By helping them develop the curiosity that is needed to discover and select meaningful problems, preparing them to understand context, human activities and the aspirations of the person and of society, educators can get them posed for transformative and actionable creativity that students will then be more likely to engage in, and therefore enthusiastically generate, create and develop relevant and inspiring solutions.