The distant studio: a survey of design students’ experience with distance educational formats

• Published in: International journal of technology and design education Vol. 33; no. 5; pp. 2019 - 2043
• Main Authors: Rosa, Carlos, Ferreira, João
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.11.2023; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Art education; Comparative Analysis; Design; Distance Education; Distance learning; Education; Educational Technology; Freehand Drawing; In Person Learning; Learning and Instruction; Online instruction; Preferences; Questionnaires; Science Education; Student attitudes; Student Experience; Student Projects; Studio Art; Undergraduate Students; Design education; Distance education; Questionnaire; Design studio
• ISSN: 0957-7572; 1573-1804
• DOI: 10.1007/s10798-022-09804-8

The paper presents the results of a survey ( n  = 279) conducted with the students of an undergraduate design course. The questionnaire inquired design students’ preferences regarding educational formats (distance, in-person, or combination of both); the questionnaire further explored the issue by comparing between four types of classes (project, drawing, theoretical-practical, and theoretical) and by establishing comparisons between the students’ enrolment year. The main results reveal that design students prefer in-person formats, and preference for in-person educational formats increases regarding project-based or drawing type of classes; what is more, preference for in-person educational formats is appears to be higher in second and third-year students than in first-year ones. These results have implications for design education: a direct transfer of the typical design educational format to a distance setting may be misguided and design education may require specific formats (distance or otherwise) to offer a satisfactory pedagogical experience to its students.