Design Education Conference 2013

Hosted by Vaal University of Technology

Design Cultures: Encultured* Design
* Encultured: Considering the behaviors and patterns of society


Democratising graphic design: the role of human-centred practice in
design education.
Submission No: 36
Abstract
The paper reports on a number of human-centred design projects completed as part of the
undergraduate graphic design programme at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT). The value of
projects rooted in participatory design practice and social responsibility is discussed in the context of
the multidisciplinary nature of graphic design and the opportunity provided by the Higher Education
Qualification Framework (HEQF) to re-design existing programmes at Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs) in South Africa. Upon reflection, the project findings indicate that the process allowed students
to produce visual design outcomes which had value in terms of design as well as community
engagement. However, to ensure success design students must be cognizant of well-structured
design research methodologies that contribute to appropriate solutions in meeting societal goals.

Keywords: graphic design, human-centred design, design education.


Introduction
The concept of the democratisation of design has steadily gained in popularity in recent years. This
paper attempts to discuss this concept through the lens of graphic design education. Graphic design
has been defined as a collaborative creative process that combines art and technology to
communicate ideas through the use of tools such as image and typography (AIGA). Richard
Buchanans (2000:22) definition of graphic design is most apt in context of this paper: *D+esign is
the creative human power to conceive, plan and realise products that serve human beings in the
accomplishment of their individual and collective purposes. A significant aspect of this definition is
that it focuses on service to human beings rather than self-expression and market-led objectives,
irrespective of specific area of activity or specialist practice. Contemporary discussions of design in
context of its societal associations have surpassed the limitations of typical marketing-led consumer
input or considerations of accessibility to broader audiences. The three foremost design paradigms
in current design discourse have been described as sustainable design, technologically-driven design
and human-centred design (Joseph Giacomin 2012).

Human-centred design is considered a suitable methodology for the integration of a social
dimension into the design process. Design academics are increasingly of the opinion that human-
centred design and research methods should be an integrated component of the design process
(Hanington 2005:2). At the time of writing, Cape Town has been designated as World Design Capital
(WDC) for 2014, the first city in Africa to be awarded this accolade. The WDC 2014 theme of Live
Design, Transform Life offers a socially transformative agenda for the planned projects and events
which are to take place. It is suggested that the WDC programme could be a catalyst for the ushering
in of socially conscious design onto the local arena and offering local design talent an opportunity for
showcasing their skills (MRithaa 2013). It is the premise of this paper that socially responsible design
practices such a human-centred design are fast becoming an integral part of multi-dimensional
graphic design practice and that in order for graduates to succeed in this environment graphic design
programmes must be re-conceptualised to incorporate the principles of human-centred design as a
core philosophy of its curriculum.

This paper reports on a number of human-centred design projects completed as part of the
undergraduate graphic design programme at a university of technology (UoT) in South Africa. The
teaching and learning that took place is discussed and critiqued as a possible approach to design
education and practice. Additionally the paper highlights the essential characteristics of human-
centred design thinking, practice and education by presenting a systematic enquiry into the
development of a teaching and learning approach with a specific philosophic underpinning of
human-centred design. In order to do so, the paper describes the introduction and integration of
social dimensions into the design process within the frameworks of collaborative practice and micro-
environments.

Background
In 1971, Victor Papanek called for designers to adopt a role of increased social and moral
responsibility in his seminal text Design for the real world: Human ecology and social change. The
role of the graphic designer is being continuously re-defined in ways that attempt to challenge the
notion that design is merely a servile industry. In addition to economic approaches, design
professionals are increasingly addressing a range of social, cultural and environmental challenges in
their practice with constantly evolving design strategies and methodologies. Contemporary design
academics have observed that in the twenty-first century every designer is a citizen, and every
citizen is, to some degree a designer (Lupton 2005:12). Therefore the concept of what design is is
changing, as the design profession is adapting to participate in these new forms of practice.

An awareness of the importance of the socio-cultural role of design, has existed for some time
amongst the broader graphic design community, but this was seldom embraced in mainstream
practice. The First Things First manifesto, initially published by designer and academic Ken Garland in
1964, was re-launched as the First Things First 2000 manifesto by Adbusters magazine in 1999. The
manifesto rallied against consumerism and attempted to highlight a humanist approach to graphic
design. The First Things First 2000 manifesto further fuelled the debate amongst the international
design community regarding the emerging schism between self-serving commercial design practice
and socially responsible design. Consequently, Rick Poynor (2002:10), one of the coordinators of the
First Things First 2000 manifesto and founder of Design Observer, criticised the premise of the
manifesto and remarked that the majority of design products address corporate needs and
therefore the role of graphic design is primarily determined by economic considerations.

Nonetheless a diversity of thinking exists and designers such as Yoko Akama (2008:20) argue that
design must be positioned as an integral part of the political, social, cultural, environmental,
commercial and technological world around us. This is, however, often not the case as Akama
(2008:20) is of the opinion that in design practice the role of socially responsible design is frequently
addressed through simplistic solutions such as pro-bono work for charitable institutions or through
environmentally responsible production. The role of the socially oriented graphic designer remains
a valid topic of discussion amongst designers and academics with several international educational
institutions addressing key issues through curricula dealing with topics such as human-centred
design, co-design, participatory design, service design, experience based design, sustainable design,
design activism and design thinking as key strategies for the viability of design products.

Design within higher education
While design education in South Africa must take cognizance of international disciplinary
developments, it must also respond to national and institutional imperatives. In short, higher
education in South Africa must equip graduates to contribute to the countrys social and economic
development and HEIs must fulfill the core functions of teaching, research and community
engagement (Rosochacki & Costandius 2012:166). Consensus has not been reached regarding the
most effective ways in which Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) should address community
engagement and social responsibility (Van Schalkwyk & Erasmus 2011:58). One approach that has
had some success and has certain similarities to human-centred practice is service learning (SL). SL is
an experiential, community-based reciprocal pedagogy often employed as a strategy for educational
reform. The teaching of human-centred design within an SL framework delivers mutual benefits for
both the understanding of human-centred design and for facilitating service learning (Zoltowski
2010:9). In South Africa SL has been embraced as one of the means of responding to the
governments call for universities to engage with local and national developmental demands (Osman
& Attwood 2007:16). Another aspect of service-learning known as project-based learning (PJBL)
could offer additional possibilities for the inclusion of human-centred design principles into design
curricula. PJBL brings together intellectual inquiry, real-world issues, and student engagement in
relevant and meaningful work (Barron, Schartz, Vye, Moore, Petrosino, Zech, & Bransford, 1998;
Blumenfeld, Soloway, Marx, Krajcik, Guzdial, & Palincsar, 1991). While there is a dearth of scholarly
literature on human-centred graphic design in South Africa, the field of service learning has been
well documented since its inception at several South African HEIs in the 1990s. A concern is that
service learning may be practiced at a charitable level without genuine community participation and
engagement (Mahlomaholo & Matobako 2006:214) aligns with the concerns raised by a number of
academics involved in the discussion of human-centred design projects (Akama 2008 for example).

The manner in which human-centred design is taught at South African institutions is not well
documented. Internationally reputable programmes in human-centred design exist (Carnegie
Mellon University, USA, d.school at Stanford University, USA, Emily Carr University of Art and Design,
Canada, etc.) however, these are seldom situated solely within design departments, are often
generic and serve students from a variety of faculties. In South Africa, human-centred design is
taught mostly within the parameters of the user-centredness contained in architecture, product and
interaction design, information technology (IT) and information and communication technologies
(ICT) curricula. When included as a component in graphic design programmes the approaches differ
depending on the historical context of the institution where, at universities, entrenched tradition
provides opportunity for engagement with the philosophical and theoretical concepts associated
with human-centred design whilst UoTs have, to a smaller or larger degree, retained some of the
legacy of the technikon education system (possibly, in part due to the admission criteria which are
far lower than for a traditional university) by continuing to focus teaching on skill acquisition and
vocational readiness. When taught at all, human-centred design is encapsulated in stand-alone
modules or is taught under the umbrella of philosophical concepts such as Design Thinking. Design
thinking, a creative problem solving approach which incorporates many of the aspects associated
with human-centred design is often suggested as a novel approach to design education. As design
thinking and human-centred design are often referred to in parallel, misconceptions may arise as to
the relationship between the two concepts. Whereas Brown (2008:37) defines design thinking as a
discipline that uses the designers sensibility and methods to match peoples needs with what is
technologically feasible, a humancentred approach focuses foremost on human and societal
needs.

At the time of writing a mapping of what precisely encompasses human-centred design, and a
systematic, in-depth, comprehensive academic discussion of the teaching and learning strategies for
human-centred design within South African design programmes has yet to take place. Fittingly, a
major revision of the Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF) is currently underway
which provides opportunity for programme review. The objective of the HEQF is to locate all higher
qualifications within a single framework and to ensure that qualifications are appropriate to defined
qualification purposes and that they answer to the mandate of specific types of institutions. All HEIs
are required to review their programmes and to re-structure and re-curriculate where necessary
(Mthembu 2012:188; Smit 2013). Although some departments are currently restructuring curricula
to include a broader focus of social responsibility it may be too early to ascertain whether any are
considering the inclusion of human-centred principles as a core teaching and learning strategy or
whether key features recommended for human-centred design such as the integration of
ethnographic research methods will be included.
Project description
The projects described in this paper take place within the graphic design section of the Visual Arts
and Design department at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), the former Vaal Triangle
Technikon. At present, the graphic design programme at the VUT is being reviewed in terms of
meeting the new HEQF framework and an institutional decision to concentrate on the development
of diploma qualifications has been made. It is imperative that curricular re-conceptualisation is in
line with the fast-and-ever changing needs of the graphic design industry. The graphic design section
at VUT takes cognisance of a recent American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGAb) discussion document
on the strategic role of graphic design education and is in the process of re-framing the existing
programme with the following concerns in mind:
1) The usefulness of the design outcome,
2) The usability of the communication product,
3) The desirability and or perceived benefits of the design outcome,
4) The sustainability and lifespan of the design products,
5) The feasibility of the communication in terms of production and distribution,
6) The viability of the design outcome and the potential for return on investment,
7) The complexity of the design outcome must be achieved through means such as
interdisciplinary collaboration and seeing design as a system-level activity,
8) The practice of responsible design - designing for and with people (AIGAb).

AIGA proposes that new design curricula are informed not only by the needs and wants of the client
and the context of the graphic design brief but also by a deeper understanding of human behaviour
(AIGAb). Furthermore AIGA has identified subjects as diverse as anthropology, computer science,
psychology and engineering as being of particular relevance to future designers and the introduction
of certain modules grounded in these subjects is currently being considered at VUT. Similar concepts
have been considered by other South African design educators with recognition of active learning
(learning being embedded in the context of culture, and being focused on practice, community,
identity and meaning) as being essential in the formulation of graphic design curricula (Duker
2011:71). Duker describes learning activities in this context as being engaged and dilemma driven
with an emphasis on the transformation of the whole person as opposed to the mere
dissemination of factual information (2011:71).

Although some aspects of human-centred design, such as the development of critical thinking skills
and attention to collaborative engagement, are presently included in the teaching of graphic design
at VUT, this approach remains on the periphery. The institutional focus at the VUT is on becoming
an active role player in the community, society and the broader context (Johnson, Louw & Smit
2010) with an emphasis on entrepreneurial engagement and innovation. VUTs chancellor, Prof.
Irene Moutlana has remarked that the mandate of higher education institutions (HEIs), is the
creation of knowledge, and through partnerships with relevant industry the transfer of this
knowledge to the community (de Beer 2010:90). Moutlana recognizes that as part of the universitys
mandate, over and above teaching and learning, HEIs have a public life and need to make a social
contribution. Arguably embracing emerging trends in design practice such as a focus on human-
centred design, coupled to the opportunity provided by the HEQF to redesign programmes, may
facilitate the offering of graphic design programmes at VUT that address the national imperatives of
social cohesion, job creation and community engagement and answer to multi-dimensional
disciplinary challenges.

The graphic design programme at the VUT offers undergraduate (currently National Diploma and
BTech) and postgraduate (currently MTech) qualifications in graphic design. The Diploma in Graphic
Design comprises an undergraduate curriculum that has its roots in the vocational-type instruction
formerly offered at most former technikons. As the great majority of first year students entering the
programme have had no former art or design training the first year consists of a foundation in design
with a large proportion of the instruction being basic conceptual and technical skill acquisition. As
part of this foundation all graphic design students are taught a typical process (see Figure 1) in order
to answer the design challenges posed within studio-based projects.


Figure 1: The design process

The above process places emphasis on the outcome which is the resultant design artifact. However,
in order to apply human-centred design principles students must be cognizant of the contexts and
meaning making of the content of the artifact. In contemporary practice, the aspirations of design
professionals are no longer solely focused on fulfilling the aesthetic expectations of a client but
rather on formulating a holistic and strategic process where the products of design acquire new
meaning which increasingly includes a socially responsible position. Within human-centred design
the emphasis of the design process is on so-called design for social good through participation and
empowerment. According to Kazmierczak (2003:48), within contemporary design practice the
content of a design is no longer sought in the artifact itself. It becomes a receiver's thought, which is
constructed through the receiver's contact with a design. As such, it is created and owned by the
receiver or audience for whom it is intended. In order for undergraduate students to understand
audiences, meaning, value and participation in a human-centred context, the methods applied to
point 2 on the process illustrated in Figure 1 (research possible solutions) should be appropriate,
flexible and framed within the parameters of design thinking.

Students are better equipped to deal with conceptual and theoretical aspects as from the second
year and the inclusion of human-centred principles and factors is introduced in a limited number of
studio-based projects. It is at this level that students are introduced to real-client based briefs
which contributes to the development of knowledge that empowers students for direct interaction
design artifact
1) identify and
understand design
problem
2) research
possible solution
3) conceptualise
4) develop design
solutions
5) critique and
revise if necessary
6) reflect
with people and real-world problems. It is an aspiration that exposure to the basics of human-
centred design at this level of study will assist in developing a passion in the students for advocating
real-world problems and designing with real users and audiences in mind.

At third year level students are exposed to human-centred design through an integrated 5-week
module which includes theoretical and practical outcomes grounded in human-centred design
philosophies. This module includes the following components:
1) An introduction to human-centred research methods including interview techniques, data
collection instrument formulation, early-phase data collection techniques and ongoing
concept development.
2) An introduction to individual, social, cultural and emotive human factors that impact on
design conceptualisation and development.
3) An introduction of participatory methods and collaborative design activities.

The project includes a student-led enquiry whereby students are given the opportunity to explore
the above concepts in context. This step provides an opportunity for the students to engage in a
consultative, immersive process with various stakeholders to investigate and explore the designers
role in enabling and facilitating stakeholder input in the design process. The students are required to
identify a potential client within their communities and collaboratively develop a brief which delivers
or enhances design solutions to be used within a commercial application. The complexity of the
design problem is determined by the student and client working collaboratively. The problem
identification phase requires students to complete extensive research into the scope and depth of
the design problem, it is recognized that in order for the design to be applicable the students have to
gather as much information as possible regarding the user. The conceptualisation of possible
solutions is a collaborative exercise which includes all stakeholders. The clients/users are
encouraged to contribute to the final design artifact by having significant input in the development
of the artwork, the making of design-based decisions (such as choosing appropriate typefaces for
example) as well as contributing to the students reflection-on-action by critiquing and commenting
on the design prototypes. The students are made aware of the importance of the client/user
participation throughout the process. Although this project has a commercial outcome the
foundation of human-centred design principles is laid through the incorporation of participatory
practices, the focus on user-centred research and data collection methods and the continual
emphasis of the social dimension of design production.

At fourth year (BTech) level students who participate in the human-centred design project have had
prior exposure to the principles and philosophies of human-centred design as from the second year
of study. Although the 5-week module follows a similar process as at the third year level the
emphasis is on the social aspect of the design outcome. Here the students are encouraged to work
individually or in small groups of two or three students to identify clients whereby the design
solution would have a greater social impact. At the time of writing sixteen students have
participated in the project and all opted to work in groups. As a result some of the projects identified
included the development of a recycling campaign for a local school as well as the development of
an awareness campaign for the local taxi association. One project (the development of a new
corporate identity for a local NGO - a residence for mentally challenged patients which provides
basic skills and training) resulted in students ongoing involvement with the design and marketing of
products produced by the residents of the facility. It is interesting to note that when reflecting on
the project outcomes the participating students cited greater satisfaction from the projects which
had the most perceived social impact. Importantly, when asked to reflect on the project from a
holistic perspective students indicated that the employment of human-centred, participatory
research methods in context of real-world problems, replaced their previous negative perceptions
associated with research-based work.

Conclusion
Contemporary professional design practice involves advanced multidisciplinary knowledge that
presupposes interdisciplinary collaboration and requires a fundamental change in the approach to
design education. In order to serve human beings, outstanding professional designers must master
the art of human engagement based on ethics and care (Friedman 2012:150). Additionally, in order
for a human-centred democratisation of design to take place the power relationship between
audiences and designers must change. From a design education perspective Cassim (2012:19)
suggests that more attention needs to be given to the nurturing of design thinking skills within an
educational context. The projects described above have informed the conceptualisation of the re-
curriculated graphic design programme at the VUT. The importance of the inclusion of research
methods for design at introductory undergraduate level has been the most significant impact of the
reflection upon the teaching and learning processes which take place in these human-centred design
modules. Furthermore, it is envisioned that in future the design curriculum at VUT will include core
modules in human factors and design thinking which will equip future graduates with the skills,
knowledge and disposition for creative, human-centred design outcomes in their practice.

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