Sanjoy Mazumdar,
This is Pradeep Yammiyavar, Professor of Design from the Indian Institute
of Technology Guwahti, Assam, India.
The Lasagna model is a refreshing dipiction. Unfortunately if I peel the
layers one by one , I find there is no core left ! You do have mentioned
that you are leaving out science /technology etc giving an impression that
what matters most in training designers are those layers metioned by
you. Sanjoy I will be happy if I am told I am wrong.
Many design educators even today make the mistake of assuming that the
entry to the world of design  knowledge is through layers that can be
classifed as humanities or soft subjects. Reality is that there is a
limited amount of time available to a design educator to first unveil the
world of Design knowlegde , then make the student absorbe it, all the
time ensuring that the student becomes a worthy professional and all this
without interfering with the student's creative abilities.  As new
concerns come up (sustainability /environmental issues etc) are we going
to add new layers to the lassange ?. If so we will continue to pell the
layers in our quest to become designers without ever reaching the core.!

While I agree with the spirit of Sanjoy's approch  I  would be happy if
I am told about the core of the lasagne. My point is Design is not just
multidisciplinary but also interdisciplinary. How do we weave the
knowledge base with multidisciplinarity on one hand and
interdisciplinarity on the other? Do we have a knowledge base in Design ?
Has Design as a discipline done enough to engineer its knowledge base ?
The answer is not yet.  Till we have our own knowledge base,  Engineering
/Technology/Sciences will be the core- like it or not.

The UCI model suggetsed in the proposal is a worthy attempt worth
encouraging.  But how can one be assured that "too many cooks do not spoil the broth".
 That is the academic challenge. From my limited experience of
implementing UCI proposed type of programs in India I can state that
the challenge is not administartive or logistics but of initiating
attitudinal change. We Designers must change our attitudes first if we
want others to change.

Pradeep.
__________________________________________
Pradeep Yammiyavar PhD
Professor
Department of Design
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Guwahati 781039 Assam, India.
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