Integrating principles of sustainability into communication design pedagogy at selected HEIs in Cape Town : towards an industry-responsive curriculum
Thesis (MTech (Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. === This research study investigates the level of awareness of, and engagement with Design for Sustainability (DfS) among three categories of actors within the Cape Town communication design fraternity: design educators, design...
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ndltd-netd.ac.za-oai-union.ndltd.org-cput-oai-localhost-20.500.11838-23972018-05-28T05:09:51Z Integrating principles of sustainability into communication design pedagogy at selected HEIs in Cape Town : towards an industry-responsive curriculum Yiannakaris, Laskarina Alice M'Rithaa, Mugendi K Munyai, Keneilwe Sustainable design Industrial design -- Environmental aspects Academic-industrial collaboration Industrial designers -- Training of Thesis (MTech (Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. This research study investigates the level of awareness of, and engagement with Design for Sustainability (DfS) among three categories of actors within the Cape Town communication design fraternity: design educators, design students and design professionals. It focuses specifically on the degree of application of DfS within three selected Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Cape Town, while also interrogating the local industry’s need for students who are knowledgeable and skilled in this subject. To successfully practice DfS, communication designers need to be responsive to the possible environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of their work. This study argues for the early incorporation of principles of sustainability into communication design curricula in order to promote the uptake of DfS. An extensive review of literature facilitates the showcasing of practical examples of how communication designers can positively address sustainability through their design solutions. Further, it also unpacks the barriers and solutions to integrating DfS into both education and practice. The study employs a qualitative research approach. Using purposive sampling, rich data is gathered from the key informants through focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Activity Theory is used as an analytical lens through which to examine the dynamics between the three different actors who are involved in the activities of teaching, learning and practicing DfS in communication design. The findings identify major gaps in the teaching of DfS as the subject is typically considered to be applicable to environmental issues. There is also limited understanding of how to practically apply principles of sustainability. Along with proposing appropriate strategies and tools to enrich the education around DfS in a more holistic manner, the study highlights the need for proactive re-curriculation so as to effectively sensitise students to the responsibility of communication designers to tackle sustainability issues. A set of adaptable guidelines is proffered as a way of making DfS more accessible to students while training them to channel their unique skill set and enhance attributes of agility and resilience in preparation for professional practice and an ever changing world. Educators are seen as playing the most crucial role in effecting the proposed guidelines because they interface with both students and industry; as well as straddle the critical domains of research, pedagogy and professional praxis. Additionally, this study recommends establishing more robust, responsive and meaningful connections between academia and industry in order to develop contextually relevant industry standards that will promote and advance DfS best practice among the Cape Town communication design fraternity. 2017-05-15T08:12:44Z 2017-05-15T08:12:44Z 2016 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2397 en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/za/ Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
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language |
en |
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topic |
Sustainable design Industrial design -- Environmental aspects Academic-industrial collaboration Industrial designers -- Training of |
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Sustainable design Industrial design -- Environmental aspects Academic-industrial collaboration Industrial designers -- Training of Yiannakaris, Laskarina Alice Integrating principles of sustainability into communication design pedagogy at selected HEIs in Cape Town : towards an industry-responsive curriculum |
description |
Thesis (MTech (Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. === This research study investigates the level of awareness of, and engagement with Design for Sustainability (DfS) among three categories of actors within the Cape Town communication design fraternity: design educators, design students and design professionals. It focuses
specifically on the degree of application of DfS within three selected Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) in Cape Town, while also interrogating the local industry’s need for
students who are knowledgeable and skilled in this subject.
To successfully practice DfS, communication designers need to be responsive to the
possible environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of their work. This study
argues for the early incorporation of principles of sustainability into communication design curricula in order to promote the uptake of DfS. An extensive review of literature facilitates the showcasing of practical examples of how
communication designers can positively address sustainability through their design solutions.
Further, it also unpacks the barriers and solutions to integrating DfS into both education and
practice. The study employs a qualitative research approach. Using purposive sampling, rich
data is gathered from the key informants through focus groups and semi-structured
interviews. Activity Theory is used as an analytical lens through which to examine the
dynamics between the three different actors who are involved in the activities of teaching,
learning and practicing DfS in communication design. The findings identify major gaps in the teaching of DfS as the subject is typically considered
to be applicable to environmental issues. There is also limited understanding of how to
practically apply principles of sustainability. Along with proposing appropriate strategies and
tools to enrich the education around DfS in a more holistic manner, the study highlights the
need for proactive re-curriculation so as to effectively sensitise students to the responsibility
of communication designers to tackle sustainability issues. A set of adaptable guidelines is
proffered as a way of making DfS more accessible to students while training them to channel
their unique skill set and enhance attributes of agility and resilience in preparation for
professional practice and an ever changing world. Educators are seen as playing the most
crucial role in effecting the proposed guidelines because they interface with both students
and industry; as well as straddle the critical domains of research, pedagogy and professional
praxis. Additionally, this study recommends establishing more robust, responsive and
meaningful connections between academia and industry in order to develop contextually
relevant industry standards that will promote and advance DfS best practice among the Cape
Town communication design fraternity. |
author2 |
M'Rithaa, Mugendi K |
author_facet |
M'Rithaa, Mugendi K Yiannakaris, Laskarina Alice |
author |
Yiannakaris, Laskarina Alice |
author_sort |
Yiannakaris, Laskarina Alice |
title |
Integrating principles of sustainability into communication design pedagogy at selected HEIs in Cape Town : towards an industry-responsive curriculum |
title_short |
Integrating principles of sustainability into communication design pedagogy at selected HEIs in Cape Town : towards an industry-responsive curriculum |
title_full |
Integrating principles of sustainability into communication design pedagogy at selected HEIs in Cape Town : towards an industry-responsive curriculum |
title_fullStr |
Integrating principles of sustainability into communication design pedagogy at selected HEIs in Cape Town : towards an industry-responsive curriculum |
title_full_unstemmed |
Integrating principles of sustainability into communication design pedagogy at selected HEIs in Cape Town : towards an industry-responsive curriculum |
title_sort |
integrating principles of sustainability into communication design pedagogy at selected heis in cape town : towards an industry-responsive curriculum |
publisher |
Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2397 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT yiannakarislaskarinaalice integratingprinciplesofsustainabilityintocommunicationdesignpedagogyatselectedheisincapetowntowardsanindustryresponsivecurriculum |
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