Assimilating historical contexts as learning labs : introducing design thinking in the foundation level of design education

Abstract

Design Thinking is the practice of including and empathizing with people, their cultures, traditions and especially their emotions throughout the problem-solving process of design. In the Bachelor of Design course at the Department of Integrated Design, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, this practice begins by the realization of one’s self. While the individual self is realized in varied perspectives in succession, the use of historical contexts as the introductory atmosphere is highly beneficial. Using inherent qualities of the physical context, culturally valued reminiscent structures or ideological attributes given to contexts, students begin the process of questioning the norm for the progression of empathized betterment through history. Empirical data of ten (10) projects spanning from 2001 to 2015 is used to derive the methods of experimentation and evolution of historical contexts as learning labs. The gathered analytical data is used to synthesize necessary inclusions of a historical learning lab and future possibilities. The research has been funded by the Senate Research Committee of the University of Moratuwa under the grant number SRC/ST/05/2015.