An Investigation of Drawing Skills' Role in Art And Design Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Academies

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between drawing and design skills in higher education academies specialising in art and design. Contradictory views -spread among the faculty members and transferred to the students- over the role of drawing skills in supporting designers' abilities and skills are presented and discussed. One viewpoint asserts that the ability to draw is equal to the ability to design. On the other hand, others believe that drawing does not equip design students with appropriate skills, especially in light of modern technology tools, including art and design computer software. This contradiction in ideas and visions between those in charge of the educational process directly impacts achieving design programs' learning outcomes. This research discussed this issue by examining the correlation between students' drawing and design abilities. Therefore, the marks achieved by female students in the Design Department, majoring in graphic design, at Al Zahra College for Women in the Sultanate of Oman were studied with a focus on graduation project grades and drawing courses. A statistical analysis of this relationship using a t-test found a strong positive correlation between graduation project grades and the average grades of three drawing courses (r=0.79, R2=0.62, p>0.05). Moreover, the statistical data supports accepting the null hypothesis, meaning no difference exists between the data obtained for the representative drawing and design courses. Consequently, it is evident through this study that drawing courses positively and strongly support students' performance in the graduation project, representing the highest level of design abilities. The results of this study could be adopted by design programs to focus on freehand drawing skills and courses besides other skills, such as technological skills, including using drawing and design software programs.