I have a question to ask Prof Dick Tylor. My name is Pradeep Yammiyavar. I
am a Professor of Product Design in a Design Department of the
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati -one of India's 7 IITs.
My area of research interest is Product Semantics but I
teach courses such as Useability Engineering, Interaction design,
CAD/CAM, Product engineering and Design Research Methodology to name a
few.
I have been following up the conference delibrations very keenly.Since
educational systems are a bit different in this part of the world, I have
one question to ask Prof Dick Tylor regarding the new program. How are
they planning to screen applications to the programs. Is there going to be
a test of apptitudes ,skills and knowledgwe base ?. Or is it going to be
open to any student to join and become a Designer.
In India we have Design programs similar to the one being proposed and
these are in what one would call predominantly science and engineering
institutions. I have noticed that students with a certain predisposed attitude
towards design and an apptitude ( what one terms as Right brained) fare
better in the Design programs. I have also noticed that students with an
pure engineering bent of mind have dificulties with spatial thinking ,
aesthetic sensitivity and a general apathy towards working with the hands.
To get both types of thinking namely analytical as well as synthesis
skills honed in the same student is a daunting task too delicate to be
left to a group of faculty drawn from different backgrounds disciplines.
I feel design apptitude testing on the students needs to be defined for
such programs to be successful. Has the new program considered this aspect.
I would be interested to know how many university level design programs
around the world have such specialised entry and apptitude screening
tests.
_______________________________________________________-
Pradeep Yammiyavar PhD
Professor
Department of Design
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Assam - 781039 India.
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