Designing the Future: A Manifesto for Design Education

Abstract: The design discipline, historically rooted in the capitalist consumerism framework, has predominantly focused on influencing consumer desires to promote the sale of superfluous products (Papanek, 1971). This traditional approach to design education has often been misaligned with the pressing socio-environmental challenges of our times, leading to a production of graduates ill-equipped to address the realities of dwindling resources and the imperative to maintain and optimize the existing built environment (Monteiro, 2019).Recent decades have witnessed significant shifts in global economic paradigms, relationships with natural resources, and evolving social conditions (Meadows et al., 1972). Schumacher's "Small is Beautiful" underscores the necessity for a sustainable economic approach, emphasizing the value of localized, human-centric systems. Concurrently, the "Donut Economy" model proposed by Raworth (2017) presents an innovative framework, advocating for an economic system that harmoniously balances human needs with ecological boundaries.The cradle-to-cradle design approach, as elucidated by prof. Federico Maria Butera, emphasizes the interconnectedness of natural systems and the importance of a circular design methodology. This perspective aligns with the broader shift towards community empowerment and co-designing change paths, a sentiment echoed by thought leaders such as Thackara, Hill, and Lutz.Technological advancements, particularly the advent of CAD tools and AI-driven design platforms, have democratized the design process (Manzini, 2015). While these tools have transformed the discipline, there is a pressing need for an epistemological renovation of design education (DiSalvo, 2020; Di Dio, 2022). The proposed Manifesto for design education, grounded in a transdisciplinary approach, mission-driven learning methodologies, and a strong ethical foundation, seeks to address these challenges. Core principles include social and environmental justice, emphasizing the role of designers as stewards of a sustainable future.The imperative is to articulate a comprehensive Manifesto for the future of design education to inspire design practitioners and professors to develop universities programs. This Manifesto, while providing a foundational structure, is intended to be a living document, open to international discourse and iterative refinement.This paper develops a draft Structure of the Manifesto for the Future of Design Education in the following points:1. Preamble:- Contextualizing the current state of design education.- Recognizing the global challenges and the role of design in addressing them.2. Principles of Sustainable Design:- Emphasizing the importance of social and environmental justice.- Advocating for a holistic, systemic, circular design approach.3. Transdisciplinary Approach:- Promoting collaboration across disciplines.- Recognizing the interconnectedness of global challenges and the need for diverse expertise.4. Mission-Driven Learning:- Aligning educational objectives with global sustainability goals.- Encouraging problem-solving that addresses real-world challenges.5. Ethical Foundation:- Establishing a code of ethics for designers.- Emphasizing responsibility, integrity, and accountability.6. Community Empowerment and Co-Design:- Promoting participatory design practices.- Empowering communities to be active stakeholders in the design process.7. Technological Integration:- Recognizing the role of technology in democratizing design.- Encouraging the ethical use of technology in design practices.8. Open Forum for International Discourse:- Inviting global perspectives and insights.- Facilitating regular reviews and updates to the Manifesto based on collective wisdom.9. Call to Action:- Encouraging institutions, educators, and practitioners to adopt and adapt the principles of the Manifesto.- Promoting collaborative efforts to develop a novel design master's program aligned with the Manifesto's vision.By proposing this draft structure, the aim is to foster a collaborative, international dialogue. The overarching goal is to nurture a generation of designers equipped to address the multifaceted challenges of the 21st century, ensuring the discipline's relevance and impact in shaping a sustainable future.

Keywords: pedagogy, design, future, ecological transition

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004537

Cite this paper:

​