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This paper will present a case where designers are educated through a studio approach to position and develop their own design knowledge and theory building. The paper discusses a selection of exercises that bring theory close to product design student practice by connecting the materialising, body-based and future-shaping practice that is design, to that of more lecture-based learning such as in disciplines of design history and design theory. It looks at how design theory may be conceptualised and taught in a design school, to challenge how design thinking is increasingly taught with limited design studio practice. As design practice is increasingly abstracted to design thinking and theorising, from the body to the head so to speak, what is at stake when we ignore the designing, culture-building and connecting body? The paper will reflect on some of these concerns and considerations in building conceptual structures to support design as practice and design as theory building. The paper makes a contribution to a theorising design discourse by examining some underpinnings of theory building relevant for design and to position embodied, material knowledge from studio work as a necessary experience for understanding and incorporating theory in design futures.

Keywords:

Design, Practice, Practise, Theory, Pedagogy