Abstract:

“Tomorrows workers need to think critically if they are to survive in a world that is becoming more complex and where technology continues to progress with accelerating change.” The design studio is the heart of Interior Architecture education. It is the spring board for future designers and is the main forum for creative exploration, critical thinking, discussion, development and reflection. Our future designers need to be disciplined, analytical yet flexible thinkers, who are able to address and resolve new and complex problems. This paper referees the progression and development of an experimental design studio over a series of three years. The studio was initially established to gauge students design understanding through drawing and modelling thereby providing a common tool for discussion. This then raised a series of concerns relating to their understanding of scale, detail and human occupation. Therefore the studio approach was revised to incorporate full scale sectional models constructed from light weight materials. This revealed to the students’ an understanding of scale, detail and design tectonics. The studio inspired students to build on their knowledge and creative thinking abilities through a series of explorative exercises and modelling to better understand scale and detail within a design context.

The learning experience of students undertaking this studio was enabled and guided by teachers experienced in both university teaching and creative practice as strategic teaching is central to the creative development process. The driving pedagogical belief is that by bringing ideas to life through working with full-scale three-dimensional design models students are better able to inhabit their designs and appreciate the human scale. This attitude and practice has facilitated students’ development towards becoming stronger designers.

Keywords:

Interior Design, Experimental Design Studio, Design Methodologies.