Teaching Digital Technologies in Industrial/Product Design Courses in Portugal
Year: 2014
Editor: Erik Bohemia, Arthur Eger, Wouter Eggink, Ahmed Kovacevic, Brian Parkinson, Wessel Wits
Author: Dias, Ana Cristina; Almendra, Rita Assoreira; da Silva, Fernando Moreira
Series: E&PDE
Institution: Faculty of Architecture – University of Lisbon | CIAUD, Portugal
Section: Teaching Design Technology
Page(s): 726-731
ISBN: 978-1-904670-56-8
Abstract
In full 21st century and living in a digital age, technology advancements have led to the development and use of digital media for product design projects’ support. It starts with education and training, making students to contact and learn tools and methods of computer aided design (CAD). Believing that the level of digital technologies knowledge to design and representation is one of the basic requirements to get a position, and sometimes it makes the difference in choice requisites, this study presents the results of a critical diagnosis about the presence of ‘informatics contents’ applied to design in the academic curricula of industrial/product design in Portugal. As part of a PhD research focused on product design curricula’s adequacy to business challenges, this study aims to demonstrate how important is to keep up with the fast technological development, increasing the professional perspectives for design students. Editing/treatment of image and sound, printing technologies and multimedia communication are some of the significant contents covered by those courses. Based on the gathering and interpretation of several Portuguese design education curricula for undergraduate and master degree programmes. It appears that the introduction of the principles and practices of digital tools and methods are transmitted early in the education process. Especially on undergraduate courses, contributing to a better preparation of the design students to the market and its demands and challenges.
Keywords: Design education; product design; digital and technological contents