Design as Generator: Design Education Approach That Combines Participatory Action Research and Design Thinking

Abstract

The research paper will discuss a specific design education approach called Design as Generator that combines Participatory Action Research (PAR) and Design Thinking (DT). The approach allows the students to experience designing activities, research and action simultaneously. As a case study to show how this particular design education approach operated the paper will use a practical example from specific design class called Design, Society and Environment. In this class students work collaboratively with various community undertaking actual social problems, researching and producing design which aimed on empowering the community with concrete action. In the end design (education) should become and generate light for others.

Keywords: Design as Generator, Participatory Action Research, Design Thinking