All,
Allow me to add yet another layer to the discussion about why and how design
education must change. This layer applies to design education in the USA,
but could equally apply elsewhere. This is the layer of accreditation.
The curricula of most reputable design schools in the US architecture,
interior design, industrial design and graphic design often conform to an
external accreditation process. In other words, the profession itself plays
a leadership role in advising and approving the curricula of design schools.
With architecture and interior design, the accreditation process is rather
prescriptive and rigorously applied. In my opinion, the same situation does
not exist for industrial design and graphic design.
The accreditation for both of these design programs is governed by a set of
guidelines that are very broad and lacking in specifics. Consequently,
programs in industrial design and graphic design regularly meet the
standards. If they don't, then time is afforded them to meet the standards,
but the accreditation is rarely in doubt. This despite the fact that the two
professional associations IDSA and AIGA were originally involved in
stipulating the accreditation rules.
The result is self evident, as has been pointed out by several list members.
The curricula in many design programs are not changing. And why should they?
Many schools are accredited as well as being over enrolled. Why rock the
boat?
Clearly, the industrial design and graphic design professions via their
professional associations could be playing a more effective role in
curricular development. So far, however, they have failed to provide the
necessary leadership in creating relevant accreditation standards. It is my
contention that design schools would more likely examine and revise their
curricula if the accreditation standards were modified to reflect the needs
of the profession.
Please do not get me wrong. Accreditation standards are not a panacea. In
the American context, however, they are an extremely important device when
matching design education to design practice.
Jacques Giard PhD
Professor of Design
The Design School
480.965.1373
http://web.me.com/jrgiard/Site/Welcome.html
P Go Green! Please do not print this e-mail unless it is completely
necessary.
On 10/5/11 4:17 PM, "jon kolko" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> For whatever it's worth, here are two papers I wrote about this,
> recently, for interactions magazine and for the AIGA's New
> Contexts/New Practices conference:
>
> http://www.jonkolko.com/writingConflictingRhetoric.php
>
> http://chapters.aiga.org/content.cfm/new-contextsnew-practices-six-perspective
> s-on-design-education?pff=1#changing_conditions
>
> Best,
> Jon
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