research_socialjustice

Studio-Based Learning Strategies Inspire Thoughtful and Purposeful Designers

Funding

2020; David Smith, Joyce Thomas;
College of Architecture, Design and Construction sponsored social justice studios ($30,000)

published

To be published Summer 2021;
David Smith, Joyce Thomas, Doris Wells-Papanek; 'Studio-Based Learning Strategies Inspire Thoughtful and Purposeful Designers'; AHFE 2021: Advances in Industrial Design.

presented

To be presented Summer 2021;
David Smith, Joyce Thomas, Doris Wells-Papanek; 'Studio-Based Learning Strategies Inspire Thoughtful and Purposeful Designers'; 12th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE), NYC.

collaboration

Design studio collaboration with Joyce Thomas; Curriculum collaboration with Lisa Mercer, University of Illinios; Workshops with Doris Wells-Papanek, director of the Design Learning Network and Dr. Taffye Clayton, VP for Inclusion and Diversity, Auburn University.

This is one of four group videos produced in the 2020 Introduction to Graphic Design course with a social justice theme. The students in the video share about their process in researching and redesigning packaging for a product that originally had some element that could be considered racist.

Student redesign of Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix on the Go. To prepare for the redesign, students were assigned a literature review to address the following two questions: “Can packaging design imply meaning that perpetuates racial stereotypes?” and “If so, does this have any harmful effects on society?”

Screen capture of Zoom meeting with Dr. Taffye Clayton

Screen capture from a Zoom session with both studios attending a lecture about power, privilege and racism given by Auburn University VP for Inclusion and Diversity, Dr. Taffye Clayton. After the presentation, students were able to ask Dr. Clayton questions about the issues involved with racism.

Screen capture of digital collaboration during a workshop by Doris Wells-Papanek with the two design studios on Zoom. The workshop was titled 'Creating Monumental Change'. The students addressed issues with our design school's building named after former Alabama governor George Wallace.

Student redesign of Uncle Ben's rice packaging.

Another example of student design work on product packaging that originally contained racially offensive elements. This image shows the flat unfolded design before being turned into a box prototype. The redesign was created before the old Uncle Ben's Rice was taken off the grocery store shelves.

This work is an example of my research interest finding it’s way into the classroom. In the Fall of 2020, the Dean of the College of Architecture, Design, and Construction sponsored two studio courses in the School of Industrial and Graphic Design to include a theme of social justice. One of them was mine.

The other sponsored course was taught by Asst. Prof. Joyce Thomas. We joined forces and introduced some important contributors to our studios: Dr. Taffye Clayton, Associate Provost and VP for Inclusion and Diversity, Auburn University; Doris Wells-Papanek, founder and director of the Design Learning Network; and University of Illinois Asst. Prof. Lisa Mercer, co-author of Racism Untaught.

Prof. Thomas, Joyce Wells-Papanek and I wrote a paper about our experience which will be published Summer 2021 in AHFE 2021: Advances in Industrial Design. We will also present the paper at the 12th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics. The conference was to be in NYC, but is now scheduled to be virtual.

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