In recent years, there have been numerous initiatives regarding the incorporation of building performance simulation tools (BPSTs) in the field of architecture, but unfortunately they have not been considered in updates of the curricula of building designers' careers at a global level. This paper presents an example of the use of BPSTs in the…

Today, many technology teachers in compulsory technology education teach design and design processes using a digital design tool, such as computer aided design (CAD). Teaching involving CAD is a relatively new element and not very much is known about what teachers intend pupils to learn in compulsory education. Thus, the aim of this study is to…

Design students must develop competence in a wide range of areas in order to be successful in their future practice. Increasingly, knowledge of design methods is used to frame both a designer's repertoire and their overall facility as a designer. However, there is little research on how students build cognitive schema in relation to design methods…

Digital design and fabrication tools obtain constraints affecting creativity in conceptual design phase. There is a necessity to have a better understanding of issues related to the rationalization process of form, material and fabrication. The objective of this paper is to integrate analogue craft into architectural design studio that can be…

Strategic knowledge is a differentiating factor for conveying the design intent when modelling parts in parametric feature-based CAD systems. Nevertheless, it is rarely considered in training or, when it is tackled, it takes a traditional pedagogical approach that is far from ideal for acquiring knowledge with highly cognitive requirements. This…

While teamwork has been a central concern in engineering education, little research has systematically examined how conflict is managed in engineering teams of students. Socio-constructivism provides a solid base to explain how teamwork can foster innovation through the use of cultural artifacts, such as "boundary objects." The purpose…

This article presents an approach to creating sources of inspiration through a collaborative concept design that was developed and observed during a future visioning concept design project concerning the theme of "performance wear," which was conducted at the University of Helsinki for second-year textile student teachers. During the…

In this work a matrix-type tool is used to assist design-engineering students to develop product design projects. The 'specifications-factors-concepts matrix' or SFCM is proposed as a specific tool to organize and relate product requirements, design factors and projected solutions. Taking into account the early stages of the design process, two…

This paper investigates iteration and fixation in design by mining digital footprints left by designers. High school students used computer-aided design software to create buildings in an urban area, with the goal of applying passive solar design techniques to ensure optimal solar gains of the buildings throughout a year. Students were required to…

First year undergraduate design students have found difficulties in realising the standards expected for academic writing at university level. An assessment initiative was used to engage students with criteria and standards for a core interdisciplinary design subject notable for its demanding assessment of academic writing. The same graduate…

Design activities typically involve and culminate in the creation of models representative of new ideas and conceptions. The format is often dictated by the specific discipline, with ideas in design and technology education regularly being externalised through the use of computer aided design (CAD). This paper focusses on the realisation stage of…

In recent 5 years, digital fabrication technologies have not only advanced rapidly but have also become more user-friendly and affordable, especially regarding their educational uses. Due to these technologies' capability to link virtual and physical making, educators have extensively discussed their potential impact on fostering a…

The paper discusses how a teaching approach, "interdisciplinary design and invention pedagogy," affected primary school student teachers' learning outcomes through the craft design process in pre-service teacher education. This study applies developmental work research (Engeström in J Educ Work 14(1):133-156, 2001; Engeström in…

Initiatives to integrate engineering design in the elementary science classroom have become increasingly evident in both national reform documents and classroom practice. Missing from these efforts is a purposeful attempt to capture students' designerly thinking and dialogues as they engage in the process. The purpose of this study was to…

This paper proposes a new computer-aided educational system for clothing visual merchandising and display. It aims to provide an operating environment that supports the various stages of display design in a user-friendly and intuitive manner. First, this paper provides a brief introduction to current software applications in the field of…