Overview
Despite substantial differences in cultural, ecological, and socio-economic landscapes, NID and HSLU share a commitment to developing BA, MA, and PhD programs dedicated to Eco-Social Design. These initiatives seek to re-contextualize design education by prioritizing fostering interconnectedness, communal well-being, sustainable resource management, and adaptive futures. The project leverages our robust 15-year academic partnership and draws on experiences from our joint Ph.D. program, 'Eco-Social Innovation by Design' (swissuniversities, 2022-2024). With this project, we expand the successful collaboration focused on academic research and post-graduate education into Bachelor's and Master's curricula and teaching frameworks at both NID and HSLU.
Over one year, our collaborative exploration centers on a key research question: What eco-social literacies are essential for effectively guiding Design students through today's complex crises? This inquiry aims to jointly create a "Literacies Framework" as a guideline and a reflective tool for designing curricula focusing on eco-social transformation. To achieve this, we will thoroughly analyze and compare conceptual models, teaching frameworks, and educational practices influencing Bachelor's and Master’s education in specific design programs at both collaborating institutions.
Our approach involves synthesizing these insights, enhancing them with a cross-cultural analysis of best practices, and further examining our findings and assumptions through joint-teaching sessions. As an outcome, the jointly developed Literacies Framework will inform teaching methodologies and serve as a cornerstone for future research collaborations and dissemination activities.
