[Design] learning by design-simulating workplace collaboration

Studio as a model for collaboration

Dr Jacky BowringAssociate Professor and Head of School

School of Landscape ArchitectureLincoln University

Design Studio:• Origins in atelier-based training at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in

Paris, 19th Century – tutors introduce the language of design and model behaviour, values, design strategies, and thought processes of a designer

• Students work in a shared space, often with 24 hour access – immersive, flexible environment, modelling the professional office setting

• Activity / problem-based learning

• ‘Crits’ – ongoing critique throughout the project, which often run over many weeks, sometimes up to a semester long

• Interaction and integration paramount

• Both a space and a method – involves sustained proximity in a shared space, interaction, collaboration

48 Hour Challenge, July 2011• 15 teams of five working together for 48 hours to develop

designs for the quake-hit central city • Professionals, academics, students working together

Master Class, July 2013• Perry Lethlean, RMIT Melbourne / Taylor Cullity Lethlean• NZILA Professionals and SoLA students

Multi-institutional Collaborative Studio• Counter to the competitive model of tertiary institutions • Students and staff from architecture schools around New

Zealand• Based at CPIT and the School of Landscape Architecture –

sustained co-location, mixed teams, high staff to student ratios, intensive environment

Charrette • Very intensive design studio – often to solve a specific problem

(from French for ‘cart’, into which completed designs were placed)• Recently – combined charrette run by Neil Challenger (Lincoln

University) including students from around the world

Presentation Day• Each semester studios

conclude with shared presentations, food, exhibitions, involving all students from all years of the School

• The Studio – as space and process – is the core of the culture of the School of Landscape Architecture

Teaching ratios

First and second year 1:15

Third year 1:8

Fourth year final semester 1:4

Design Lab

• Uses the studio model in terms of spatial proximity and continued engagement

• Collaborative between postgraduate students, students and staff, students and professionals

• ‘Lab’ signals the research focus – design as research is an emerging method internationally

Inspiration: Stanford University d.school

Stanford University d.school