Giao Nguyen’s Post

The Balance in Design Education Design educators often face the challenge of focusing too heavily on the final product outcome, often at the expense of emphasizing the design process itself. This can lead to a narrow understanding of design principles and a lack of appreciation for the iterative, explorative nature of design thinking. As a result, students may become overly concerned with perfecting their end results rather than valuing experimentation, creativity, and problem-solving skills that are crucial in the design field. Moreover, the level of representation and communication of ideas develop with time, and focusing solely on the outcome can hinder this growth. Balancing attention between process and product is essential for fostering well-rounded, innovative designers. #DesignEducation #CreativeProcess #InnovativeDesign #DesignThinking #EducatorChallenges #IdeaDevelopment

Really interesting report from Design Council on design education and what benefits this can have on society and in particular, the climate emergency. https://lnkd.in/e56Sh_rw As the great Victor Papanek said, "Design is a way of thinking, an approach to problem-solving that goes beyond aesthetics," effectively reinforcing the idea that design isn't just about making things look good, design is a mindset focused on solving real-world problems. Exactly what we need today! It made me think of that fantastic programme The Big Life Fix (well worth a watch https://lnkd.in/esi-z5tR) - we need to focus education on 'design thinking', thinking outside the box and turning the box around and upside down to find solutions that better society as a whole. #designeducation

As the design industry evolves, so must our approach to design education. I strongly believe that design education should go beyond textbooks and lectures—it should immerse students in real-world challenges and encourage them to experiment with innovative materials and technologies. Imagine a curriculum where students collaborate with industry professionals on live projects or engage in workshops that push the boundaries of their creativity. This kind of experiential learning not only bridges the gap between theory and practice but also sparks a genuine passion for problem-solving. It’s about creating opportunities for students to fail and learn in a supportive environment, which is crucial for their growth. Equally important is instilling a sense of social responsibility. We need to teach future designers to consider the broader impact of their work—not just in terms of aesthetics or functionality, but also in terms of how it affects communities and the environment. The next generation of designers will need to be creative, adaptable, and forward-thinking. #DesignEducation #FutureOfDesign #ExperientialLearning #InnovativeDesign #RealWorldChallenges #CreativeThinking #DesignForGood #SocialResponsibility #SustainableDesign #ProblemSolving #Entrepreneur

A lot of wise people before me have said a lot of wise things on the importance of questioning. On how there is no such thing as a stupid question. When I go to colleges to address passing out batches of designers, one frequently asked question is: What advice would I give to young learners starting out on their design journeys? Here's one.

Just completed the "Innovation Through Design: Think, Make, Break, Repeat" course by The University of Sydney. Excited to use what I've learned about design thinking and problem-solving in my graphic design projects. #DesignThinking #GraphicDesign

What is the future of design. Earlier this week I gave a talk at Cardiff Metropolitan University as part of their Research and Innovation Week program. I spoke about something I feel passionately about, the true value and positive impact that design education can have on the economy, society and environment. The creative economy in the UK is incredible, both at home and in the impact of its diaspora globally. Despite this, as a nation we seem to have been doing our very best to cut off this talent stream at source. Consciously or otherwise we have been undermining and deprioritising design education in Schools for a decade, Design and Technology teacher numbers have halved in the last ten years and exam submissions in the subject at age 16 are down by almost 70%. I explained in my talk the value and impact the design thinking process has on the clients and partners we work with around the world including many of the worlds leading brands, institutions and agencies. The focus on understanding and working on the right problems and in the discipline of convergent and divergent thinking as a powerful approach to complex, messy, human centred problem solving. I asked everyone in the audience to draw me while I spoke. A trick from the great Sir Ken Robinson to highlight how we seem to drive permission to be creative from our minds and to be worried about judgement of our creative thoughts at school. Illustrated are some of the amazing and sometimes liberating drawings that people handed in spontaneously at the end. The future of design for me is not in a particular trend or technology. It is the way we equip and support future designers and to ensure those creative problem solving skills are embedded more broadly across society. The Design Council in the UK along with the The Design & Technology Association has recently launched its Blueprint for Renewal for Design Education. This looks to reenergise design education in the UK and up-skill 1 million designers to support the Green transition. https://lnkd.in/etFDiiC5 Its election day here in the UK and whoever the new Government may be, it is my hope this message and the importance of creativity in education and its impact for generation in the economy and society is recognised. PDR International Centre for Design and Research #designeducation #futureofdesign #creativeeconomy #innovationeducation

Understanding the experience economy: What makes an experience? "Experience" is a buzzword we see everywhere – from supermarket slogans to luxury travel. But how often do we stop to define what an experience truly means? This question becomes even more critical in education. If we’re focused on learning, shouldn’t we also consider the experience of learning? It’s time to rethink and prioritise how experiences shape the way we learn. Do you have a story to share about your experience of learning? This is an extract from Professor Colin Beard's impulse on learning experience design as part of the »Learning & Teaching Sciences« workshop in March 2023. The workshop is part of the joint programme »Designing Design Education – Impulses for a new curriculum« of the iF Design Foundation and Die Neue Sammlung - The Design Museum. To find out more about Colin Beard's impulse towards experiential learning and its practical application in design education, please visit our website, link in bio. #designingdesigneducation #iFDesignFoundation #DieNeueSammlung #innovation #design #education #TeachingTips #LearningExperience

Design is so much more than what something looks like. It is even much more than how something works. Design to me is any intervention to change something for the better, or as Herbert A. Simon stated: "A designer is everyone who devises courses of action aimed at changing existing situations into preferred ones." In our next talk at the community Innovated by Design, we wil talk with Sheng-Hung Lee about design for longevity. Design for Longevity (D4L) aims to enhance the quality of life by considering a multitude of aspects, including family, community, mobility, education, investment, risk, the future, technology, culture, policy, and society. D4L is a holistic approach, mindset, and philosophy focused on improving individuals' physical, mental, and social well-being across different life stages. Sheng-Hung Lee is a designer and PhD researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) MIT AgeLab and Ideation Lab and Board Director at Industrial Designers Society of America - VIT Student Chapter (IDSA). He is inspired by multiple domains of knowledge and perspectives while working at IDEO and serves as Adjunct Associate Professor at Shih Chien University, Taiwan. Join us for this talk Thursday August 22, 5 PM CET It is open and free to anyone. Link in comment!

Design Lecturers & Mentors—Are Your Students Ready for Today’s Design Challenges? Design students are facing a whirlwind of challenges in today's shifting landscape, here are a few that first came to mind. Staying Relevant: How can they keep up with the rapid digital shifts without falling behind? Adapting to Technological Change: How do they master the ever-evolving tools while staying open to future trends? Balancing Tradition & Innovation: How do they embrace cutting-edge tech without compromising on design principles and quality? Expanding Design Horizons: How can students push the boundaries across disciplines, from product design to lighting and soundscapes, beyond the digital world? Finding the Right Network: How can they connect with the right global network of peers to collaborate and grow? These are the real-world issues our students face—what are we doing to ensure they have the right tools and networks to thrive in this fast-evolving landscape? Let’s have the conversation. How can we better equip the next generation of designers to navigate and lead in this dynamic field? #DesignEducation #FutureOfDesign #DigitalTransformation #StudentSuccess #DesignNetworking

Design and Technology is such an important subject, especially at an early age. Its much more than coming home with a fidget spinner or hand made trowl as a keepsake. It's about problem solving, creativity, individuality, hands on learning and above all learning the value of a product/good design. As a country with a reputation for good design and innovation it's so sad to see subjects like this fall to the wayside. I wouldnt be who I am today without it. Really hope this trend doesn't continue. #design #productdesign #britishdesign