Pedagogy 2025

Abstract

This paper proposes a pedagogical framework for Form Studies in design education, positioning form as both a process of inquiry and a medium of expression that bridges academic learning with real-world design practice. The framework reflects academia’s outward turn—embracing collaborative, cross-disciplinary, and technology-driven approaches to learning. It explores how students observe, interpret, and create forms through a structured progression from perception to tangibility, engaging both emotional and functional dimensions of design. The curriculum unfolds in two stages. Stage 1: Abstraction of Form develops perceptual awareness through the examination of natural and human-made references—exploring pattern, proportion, rhythm, and movement. Students translate these insights into abstract forms through sketching, simulation, and model-making. Stage 2: Implementation of Form applies this understanding to real-world product contexts, integrating Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) and leveraging parametric and generative AI tools to explore new design possibilities. The framework incorporates insights from artisans, academicians, industry experts, and students, fostering a dialogue that connects communities and disciplines. The paper also maps where students struggle and how reflection, collaboration, and simulation-based learning enhance their aesthetic judgment, emotional intelligence, and design thinking. Ultimately, this approach redefines Form Studies as a pedagogical space where traditional design education intersects with technological innovation and human experience—aligning academic inquiry with the evolving needs of the creative industry.