Design educators in the 21st century: Applying The Compass methodology to prepare future designers as changemakers in a culture of resilience.

Abstract

Design education faces new challenges due to the growing globalization, dynamism of markets, the development of technology and high levels of complexity in various systems. The Circular Economy has been proposed as a restoration concept that implies reusing materials, using renewable energies and reducing waste. Designers have the opportunity of leading sustainable innovation by considering the long-term implications of their actions. Design educators should focus on teaching future designers to think critically to fulfil the responsibility of designing a sustainable world. Nineteen instructors at our design school were certified by The Index Project® to teach the Compass® methodology. This paper describes major takeaways self-reported by the participating instructors through the final article assignment delivered to Index. Findings from each article were classified and compared using a matrix to determine common and individual discoveries. Data analysis enabled us to identify successful aspects of the methodology when applied to the variety of cases and areas of improvement for future development. The Compass proved to be a flexible frame of action to organize, structure and manage the design process. The fundamental aspect valued by instructors and students is the focus of the method on maintaining coherence between FORM, IMPACT and CONTEXT throughout the design projects.