Abstract:

Interest in teaching entrepreneurship in creative higher education programs has grown in the last decade. However, the actions undertaken are scarce and there are no clear guidelines on how to do it effectively, as the paradigm that entrepreneurial and creative design mentality cannot coexist still prevails. At the same time, there is little research on the topic, usually limited to qualitative studies, being insufficient to objectively demonstrate the importance of the results and create significant solutions. This causes creative field professionals to feel at a disadvantage when it comes to career advancement or creating a new venture due to a lack of entrepreneurial skills and confidence, as these were not developed during their academic years. As several authors state, the key to modern entrepreneurial education, especially in creative fields, is to focus on a multidimensional and experiential approach, through its application in the program´s core, introducing business-related skills and personal development through experiential learning. The more valuable and personal significance students find in the process, the more effective the learning will be. This pilot intervention study aims to analyze the holistic impact that the integration of a teaching methodology focused on Entrepreneurial Mindset Learning (EML) in a Product Design course through Project-Based Learning (PBL) had on its students. The mixed-method study comprises qualitative and quantitative information obtained through observations and surveys collected during the development of a high-impact project that connected academia, industry, and government. The results presented a significant impact on the students' entrepreneurial skills and an overall positive experience, proving the pertinence and effectiveness of the process. This article demonstrates that there is an intrinsic relationship between creative programs and entrepreneurship education that, when applied through a high-impact project, leads to significant developments of skills and mindsets that prepare students for career advancement or creating a new venture, calling for a continuous improvement of the methodology and more in-depth studies on its application, reinforcing the inherence of entrepreneurial skills within creative design fields.

Keywords:

Design Education, Entrepreneurship Mindset Learning, Project Based Learning, Product Design, Entrepreneurship Education.