Immateriality in Design and Pedagogy

James F Eckler

doi:10.51588/eaaeacp.11

Abstract

Instructional models are increasingly online, remote, and accessible whenever convenient, ostensibly leaving the conventional design studio behind. What are the consequences of design education without a place of its own — the studio? What are the consequences if architecture Schools resist the pressures to move to a remote platform? The Architectural design studio is unique educational setting in which Information doesn’t flow in a single direction, from professor to student. Instead, it is exchanged in complex patterns of dialogue and production that form the foundation of a micro-scale community. the quality of the education is predicated on the interaction among members of this community. This presents a challenge to the virtual spaces of education that are increasingly becoming the norm. And, while virtual spaces and places of education have not yet fully assimilated the design studio, this does not mean the studio can’t leverage advantages of these emergent grounds of discourse.

Highlights

The Architectural design studio is unique educational setting in which Information doesn’t flow in a single direction, from professor to student
As this phenomenon becomes more of a cultural expectation the material counterparts to these immaterial places disappear. This is seemingly the pinnacle of ex-urban culture. Platforms such as snapchat and Instagram develop new imperatives for social media users; they must be in physical, material places and substantiate their presence with photographic evidence
There is renewed interest in material places as the emergence of these new platforms challenge users to travel, snap, selfie, and proclaim that storied places are ‘checked-off’ some list. Does this present a chance for the design studio format? Can there be educational opportunities that leverage the spectacular nature of social media posting while reintroducing some degree of human interaction? Or, to what extent do these practices exacerbate existing problems of an eroding community of the design studio?

Summary

Introduction

The Architectural design studio is unique educational setting in which Information doesn’t flow in a single direction, from professor to student. Immateriality in Design and Pedagogy: The Design Studio in an Era of Virtual Spaces of Interaction and Engagement What are the consequences of design education without a place of its own — the studio? This presents a challenge to the virtual spaces of education that are increasingly becoming the norm.

Results

Conclusion