The Transformative Potential of the Ongoing Digital Revolution for the Studio Model of Design Education

Abstract

The digital revolution has been contributing to a paradigm shift in the studio model of design education for several decades; however, it is not the only factor. Developments in design practice, theory, and its outcomes are all contributing factors in this change, along with financial and organisational pressures in the institutions themselves. From the start of the global pandemic in 2019, rapid transformation took place in design courses as they were moved online to respond to new restrictions and periods of confinement. This chapter describe the fundamental characteristics of the studio model, identifies positive and negative aspects of its signature pedagogies, and discusses the ways in which the acceleration of digital transformation present both threats and opportunities for the future of design education. In the rapid transition to remote learning methods, it is crucial that existing inherent problems of the studio model are addressed and, if possible, resolved while preserving its essential character.