New Perspectives on Design Education in Latin America: A Case Study from ICESI
Year: 2010
Editor: Boks W; Ion, W; McMahon, C and Parkinson B
Author: Betancourt Velasco, Maria Clara
Section: REFLECTIONS AND STANDS
Page(s): 48-53
Abstract
This paper illustrates the current state of design in Latin America, considering the main actors of design: state, enterprises and universities/academia. For the writing of this document different surveys -made by public institutions and private universities- were analyzed, so as to better understand the context and therefore being able to evaluate and reformulate the plan of studies of industrial design at the Icesi University. This new approach responds to the concept of competency-based curricula. The results of this evaluation and the preliminary proposal enabled us to confirm some characteristics regarding the interdisciplinarity of the program, the focus on design management and also allowed us to reinforce aspects related to strategic design, design thinking and innovation. At the same time, new strategies are being developed based on the active participation of other entities within the education process. In addition to that a new academic unit has been created with the purpose of generating knowledge in design and strengthening the university/academia-private sector-state relationship. This scheme strives for use-oriented research connected to the pedagogic model, pursuing more applications and benefits for the private sector in this part of the world.
Keywords: Interdisciplinarity, competencies, strategic design, design thinking, innovation