The future of design synthesis education

Year: 2009
Editor: Clarke, A, Ion, W, McMahon, C and Hogarth, P
Author: Acuña, Alejandro
Section: CREATIVITY
Page(s): 365-369

Abstract

The purpose of our research is to understand how industrial design students learn and formulate design synthesis and its relation to their own level of imagery. We also intend to understand how students apply sketches, models/rapid prototyping and computer technologies in the design process, during the stages of exploration, materialization and representation of design concepts. The paper then presents the findings of two pilot studies based on student´s interviews and analysis of the results derivate of two 6 hours long projects. These pilot studies represent the first of several future case studies. In the future, this research will focus on obtaining the bases of a model that maximizes the capacities of different tools that support the design process and particularly the teaching of design synthesis.

Keywords: Design synthesis education, shape configuration, design process