A pseduo relative of ours posted a link on her FaceBook page to the Nov 26 commentary written by Don Norman re: "Why Design Education Must Change"

I read the entire commentary and thought: I am one lucky SOB. My life was enriched by my College mentor, Dr. E. Roy Epperson. Dr. E, as we called him, was a true Renaissance Man; a PHD in Inorganic Chemistry, a highly respected horticulturist (he grew very rare Iris plants), an accomplished actor, an aficianato of classical music and jazz and a very gifted woodworker. Dr. E chaired the Dept. of Physical Sciences at High Point College in High Point, NC. There he worked hard to teach me "the scientific method" so that I could repeatedly identify unknown constituents of chemical compounds. However, he went beyond that and encouraged me to broaden my horizons. Under his guidance, I was enabled to "design" my own curriculum to earn my Bachelor's degree in "Natural Science". Once "designed", he sponsored me to enter into a "Contract" with HPC to complete my undergraduate studies. You see, Dr. E's mission was to produce 'educated chemists', ones who not only understood the reactions of the molecules, but also the reactions they induced in society. To that end, my education included the normal chemistry courses of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, inorganic analysis, instrumental analysis, etc, biology and microbiology plus the 'softer' social science course of economics, sociology and psychology. In addition to that, Dr. E strongly recommended that I include additional 'independent' studies in the realms of philosophy and the arts. To Graduate, I had to sit before the "Chairs" of the Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities and Philosophy and answer their queries on any topic I might have studied during my four years at HPC. Dr. E's advice to me the day before the Tribunal was "Get yourself a pint of Jack Daniels, have a few good drinks, sleep well and be there ON TIME!" When I arrived, his advise was limited to "Just relax, you have done well and they will recognize it". Amazingly, the panel agreed and I scooted out with my BS degree. (That should be of no surprise to anyone that knows how I like to BS.. LOL).

Anyway, this is just my way of saying Thank You to Dr. E for all he did to make me a better person.

http://www.core77.com/blog/columns/why_design_education_must_change_17993.asp
Interesting read... but it is sort of a rant isn't it? I mean as a designer I always know how little I actually know. It is very humbling. It is not possible for an academic education to teach a designer everything they need to know. It isn't even possible to know what it is you need to know. To my way of thinking the best an education can do is to teach you how to 'think'.

Now I see what we are responding to.

Interesting.

Eli sort of posted a commentary on the blog not specific to this "rant" as JL aknowledges but it does address the caveat of the uninformed teaching the uninformed. The link is here: http://www.thomasjmacdonald.com/content ... er-effect/

Specific to furniture design.......this is also at issue, (Bruce has edited one of my written pieces) to rationalize, I looked to the generational change we are going through and the mediocrity it produces.

What I believe has changed the game and opened up "design" to more disciplines than the traditional "industrial design" is the phrase that the intent of design is to "solve problems". The scope of the "problem solving boundaries" has been widened to include new disciplines.

It is no different for furniture design. The same "Designer" who designs the seating in a new Dubai hotel also designed the blow molded shampoo bottle we see in for instance Target retail outlets. I have no problem with this pertaining to furniture design, this is just another change we go through. I do have a problem when the uninformed do not "think" to investigate where furniture design is going and continue to preach of yesterday, hence continuing to lead followers into an uninformed furniture design arena.

.....a note:
Going through a phase now of trying to figure out where the Furniture Design topic is going. Then you see a topic like this or T-Pod questioning a bit about Krenov and I feel we have it open enough to more thoughtful discussion. I know we need to drop back a bit and delve in basics once in a while. BUT---- I sure do appreciate what you guys bring to the table.

JL,

I have to agree with your statement about the commentary being somewhat of a rant. by Mr. Norman. Seems to me that he just had to 'vent' a bit. To me, the most poignant idea was that 'design educators' needs to expose their students to a much broader spectrum of information, albeit the physical sciences, the social sciences, the humanities, etc, such that their students can develop design skills and concepts beyond color and form.

I'd like to add a bit to the "teach them to think" comment. I think the best thing a teacher can teach a student is how to learn. Learning doesn't cease upon graduation, it simply starts, or should. As my dad used to say, "a day you don't learn something is a day you were dead from the shoulders up". Learning is a life long project. Teach that, and you've taught the student the greatest lesson of all.

Learning for a specific goal is one thing, but if you can impart the love of learning for the pure love of knowledge, you have given the student a gift beyond price.

Paul
the little studious guy