Good benefactors managing design expectations

Vicki Thomas

Research output: Contribution to Book/ReportConference Contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Product design graduates can present themselves as over confident, unrealistic and even arrogant to potential clients. They seem to assume knowledge about their benefactors and have some false expectations of what it means to be a designer. Design courses should provide opportunities for students to explore their own background and experience. They need to develop an understanding the importance of social networks and be able to work with a wider range of organizations. It is vital that they understand the value of intellectual property and its central role in design exchange today. There is more than one design career route open to them and they must be able to change and adapt and be ready to take up opportunities. This paper is written from the viewpoint of a design historian and design manager, who has a fractional post teaching Contextual Studies on a Product Design course, at The University of Northampton, whilst running a specialist design consultancy. Those teaching design should learn to be good benefactors and manage their undergraduates' expectations.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 17th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, Loughborough Design School, University of Loughborough, United Kingdom, 3rd-4th September 2015: Great Expectations: Design Teaching, Research & Enterprise
EditorsGuy Bingham, Erik Bohemia, Ahmed Kovacevic, John McCardle, Brian Parkinson, Darren Southee
Place of PublicationU.K.
PublisherInstitution of Engineering Designers, The Design Society
Chapter5
Pages182-187
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)9781904670629
Publication statusPublished - 3 Sept 2015

Keywords

  • Product design
  • design ethics
  • expectations
  • intellectual property
  • social networks

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