• Empowering Design Students Through Interdisciplinary Studio Projects: Advancing Inclusive Design in Human-Centered Design (HCD) (18.1)

  Macy 106B

  • David Oh, Assistant Professor of Graphic & Experience Design, North Carolina State University

  Graphical user interface design education must empathize with marginalized audiences as digital interaction grows to ensure inclusive user experiences. User-centric approaches dominate contemporary design practice and education but often lack inclusivity for diverse user needs. Therefore, this study explored interdisciplinary studio projects involving 32 students to create narrative-driven interfaces from various persona information to address the importance of inclusivity and accessibility challenges in a higher education environment.

• Efficiency and Opportunity: Accepting External Work to Support Pedagogy While Empowering Student Self-Directed Learning (18.2)

  Winningham 205

  • Donald “Kent” Kerr, Assistant Professor, West Virginia University

  This presentation will describe the development and execution of this experimental solution to the problem of advertising, accepting, and billing design services in design education. It details the pricing and service structure, contractual obligation, and operating costs while examining what was effective and discusses the remaining challenges.

• Mindfulness is a Natural Process: Designing with Intention and Ecological Awareness (18.3)

  Winningham 214

  • Eryn Pierce, Assistant Professor in Graphic Design, Boise State University

  Exploring mindfulness as a natural process in design, emphasizing ecological awareness and intentional engagement. Through experiential learning and conservation-based projects, students shift from human-centered to eco-centered thinking, discovering nature as a model for innovation and design as a tool for fostering deeper connections between humans and their environment.