We recently held an open meeting for students and staff at the University of Dundee, School of Design, on the subject of Sustainability - What students want!
It was a very healthy discussion which centred round the subject and how we should be integrating it into our courses. What are your thoughts? Should sustainability and ethics be taught through students briefs or is there another vehicle that is more appropriate for the delivery of the subject. One thought is workshops. A much more active participatory experience. A question I ask is also the feasibility of interdisciplinary activities. In an ideal world it would be advantageous to have mixed disciplines within a project, however due to course schedules this is often hard to accommodate.
What is your opinion?
Sunday, 15 February 2009
Teaching and Learning Forum
Well done Josh! You have raised a few interesting comments after the teaching and learning forum. Most importantly the presence of students is a valuable contribution, so well done to Jonathan for that one! And let’s not underestimate the value of the first year voice! Well done Grant!
Having delivered creative briefs for students on the subject of sustainability my main aim was to create awareness and inspire students to be critical of the subject in relation to design. It is a huge and important issue for students and lecturers alike. Lecturers are still learning about the importance of the subject in relation to design, both in their own practice and their teaching.
We are now suffering the effects of a society and culture that has allowed consumerism to control our existence. Design has been a contributing factor in promoting this culture where wealth creation has been seen as being the driving factor for success. We have to be aware that ignorance of its effect has been a cause of the global issues we face today. As designers we now face a challenge that requires us to question our values and design ethics.
Most companies are faced with the issue of economic gain and the continuity of employment, not just for themselves, but for their employees. Where does ethics fit into this? It is an agonizing dilemma, when faced with a client who is just not interested in ethics but purely in monetary gain.
We can only stand by our values. I believe it will not be the few famous designers who make the difference, but the many new graduates, with a new vision, built on sustainability and ethics, who will make the large scale differences.
My experience of clients is that they have not even considered the subject in relation to their business practice in many cases and I have therefore recommended that they produce an environmental policy for both marketing and business activity. So you see it is possible for us all to make the small changes necessary for the future health of our existence.
Let’s shape the new vision for design which relies on sustainability and ethics as core values!
Join the blog: http://www.thinkdesignethics.blogspot.com
Having delivered creative briefs for students on the subject of sustainability my main aim was to create awareness and inspire students to be critical of the subject in relation to design. It is a huge and important issue for students and lecturers alike. Lecturers are still learning about the importance of the subject in relation to design, both in their own practice and their teaching.
We are now suffering the effects of a society and culture that has allowed consumerism to control our existence. Design has been a contributing factor in promoting this culture where wealth creation has been seen as being the driving factor for success. We have to be aware that ignorance of its effect has been a cause of the global issues we face today. As designers we now face a challenge that requires us to question our values and design ethics.
Most companies are faced with the issue of economic gain and the continuity of employment, not just for themselves, but for their employees. Where does ethics fit into this? It is an agonizing dilemma, when faced with a client who is just not interested in ethics but purely in monetary gain.
We can only stand by our values. I believe it will not be the few famous designers who make the difference, but the many new graduates, with a new vision, built on sustainability and ethics, who will make the large scale differences.
My experience of clients is that they have not even considered the subject in relation to their business practice in many cases and I have therefore recommended that they produce an environmental policy for both marketing and business activity. So you see it is possible for us all to make the small changes necessary for the future health of our existence.
Let’s shape the new vision for design which relies on sustainability and ethics as core values!
Join the blog: http://www.thinkdesignethics.blogspot.com
Sustainability Forum 2009
The next Forum will take place at the DCA on March 27th 2009. It will consist of a series of student presentations on the subject ‘What does sustainability mean to you?’
It will begin at 7.30pm and will be followed by an open informal discussion.
Hope to see you there!
Best
Jackie
It will begin at 7.30pm and will be followed by an open informal discussion.
Hope to see you there!
Best
Jackie
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