Design Schools 101
Ellen Shapiro
Print, March 2004.
This article covers an overview of some challenges that are being faced now in graphic design education. Shapiro, quite frankly states the openness of discussion of this topic with various higher educations design institutions. Her main point was that these prominent institutions seemed to be caught in a tug-of-war act of balancing constructive criticism and evolution in the curriculum and university policy. (i.e., What comes first new computers or re-evaluating the curriculum and courses.) She also brings to light the changes in the profession and where it will be in the future, relating it to technological, cultural and social/economic changes. It expresses the difficulties in condensing necessary design education including (learning software, concept and theory and professional practice) in a 3-4 year program. Depending on the school, these years are not entirely focused on design studies and may have extensive Liberal studies courses accompanied with the design curriculum. These schools, based on the former Basel system have been also criticized as not giving students enough “industry” practice in the design field.
What is the perfect balance between concept/theory and practice in design education?