idle
thesis project
research focus
The research done for this project explored the different factors that can impact on industrial design students’ learning experiences. Although the design studio has long been the standard form of pedagogy for industrial design education, the expansion of higher education in recent times has been changing the nature of the design studio. Research into this topic is fairly limited, however the literature that is available generally agrees that due to the changing nature of the studios, the studios as they are now are actually negatively impacting on the students involved. The research was used to identify possible opportunities for the development of a product that can be used to enhance the industrial design learning experience. industrial design students.
This project is still in progress, however the first stages of the process were very research heavy. Initially, a literature review was completed to assess the existing literature and find a research gap. To help bridge the identified gap, I also conducted primary research in the form of interviews, surveys, and photo collections. Analysing the collected results allowed me to visualise a web of interacting factors which all influence the industrial design students’ learning experience.
From these factors, design opportunities were identified and addressed, allowing the current project to continue.
