Study
User-Centred DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Explicit Design Process Frameworks Enhance Student Self-Efficacy and Conceptions

Articulating the design process through conceptual tools can positively impact students' understanding of design and their confidence in their abilities.

Research Repository (Delft University of Technology) · 2020

01

Key Findings

  • 01Teachers perceived the conceptual framework as a structuring tool for tutoring sessions.
  • 02Students found the explanation of the design process helpful.
  • 03A change in students' design conceptions and an increase in self-efficacy were observed.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Designers, especially those in learning or mentoring roles, should actively articulate and structure the design process to foster deeper understanding and build confidence.

How to apply

When onboarding new team members or teaching design principles, use visual aids or structured methodologies to break down the design process into understandable steps.

Project actions

  • 01Clearly define and document your own design process for your project.
  • 02Reflect on how you are approaching each stage of your design project and why.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo investigate whether articulating basic designerly skills with a conceptual framework influences students' perceptions of the design process and their self-efficacy.
MethodExploratory Case Studies
ProcedureTwo case studies were conducted. The first involved a short intervention measuring student perceptions after explaining the design process. The second case study integrated addressing the design process into a design studio setting, measuring changes in student conceptions and self-efficacy, and also gathered teacher perceptions of using the framework.
ContextDesign Education

Variables

IVArticulation of basic designerly skills with a conceptual framework.
DVStudents' perceptions of the design process, students' self-efficacy, teachers' perceptions of the framework.
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Addresses a critical gap in design education by focusing on process rather than just product.
  • +Provides empirical evidence from case studies on the impact of explicit process articulation.

Limitations

The exploratory nature of the studies means the results might not be generalizable to all design disciplines or educational settings.

Reliability & validity

The exploratory nature of the case studies suggests that while the findings are indicative, further research is needed to establish stronger reliability and validity through larger sample sizes and more rigorous experimental designs.

Think critically

To what extent does the 'designerly' nature of skills need to be explicitly taught versus learned through practice, and how might this vary across different design disciplines?

05

Design Principles

"The explicit articulation of design processes and skills enhances learning and self-efficacy."

In design education and practice, a clear understanding of the design process is crucial for effective problem-solving and innovation. By making the 'why and how' of design explicit, we can better equip designers with the skills and confidence needed to tackle complex challenges.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Explaining how designers work, using clear steps and tools, helps students learn better and feel more confident about their design abilities.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use this research to justify the importance of documenting and reflecting on your design process in your design project.
  • 2.Refer to the findings to support claims about how structured approaches can improve design outcomes and personal development.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

(2020). Making the Design Process in Design Education Explicit: Two Exploratory Case Studies.. Research Repository (Delft University of Technology). Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/974a14d0-af6d-4742-83cf-96a6a2149ea5/explicit-design-process-frameworks-enhance-student-self-efficacy-and-conceptions

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the value of making the design process explicit. By using structured frameworks, as demonstrated in exploratory case studies, educators and practitioners can enhance students' understanding of designerly skills and boost their self-efficacy, leading to more effective design outcomes.

09

Source

Research Repository (Delft University of Technology)

Making the Design Process in Design Education Explicit: Two Exploratory Case Studies.

journal · 2020

View source

Questions about this research

What does the research say about explicit design process frameworks enhance student self-efficacy and conceptions?
Designers, especially those in learning or mentoring roles, should actively articulate and structure the design process to foster deeper understanding and build confidence. Evidence: Research Repository (Delft University of Technology) (2020).
Why does "Explicit Design Process Frameworks Enhance Student Self-Efficacy and Conceptions" matter for design?
In design education and practice, a clear understanding of the design process is crucial for effective problem-solving and innovation. By making the 'why and how' of design explicit, we can better equip designers with the skills and confidence needed to tackle complex challenges.
How can designers apply this research?
Designers, especially those in learning or mentoring roles, should actively articulate and structure the design process to foster deeper understanding and build confidence.
What were the main findings?
Teachers perceived the conceptual framework as a structuring tool for tutoring sessions.. Students found the explanation of the design process helpful.. A change in students' design conceptions and an increase in self-efficacy were observed.
What research method was used?
Exploratory Case Studies.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2020 journal from Research Repository (Delft University of Technology).
What should I do differently in my next project?
When onboarding new team members or teaching design principles, use visual aids or structured methodologies to break down the design process into understandable steps.
What are the limitations?
The studies were exploratory, suggesting that further research with larger sample sizes and diverse contexts would be beneficial to confirm these findings.
Is there evidence that design process affects design outcomes?
Both teachers and students found explicit frameworks for the design process beneficial, leading to improved student understanding and confidence. In design education and practice, a clear understanding of the design process is crucial for effective problem-solving and innovation. By making the 'why and how' of design e Source: Research Repository (Delft University of Technology) (2020).
Where does this making design research apply?
Design Education It sits within user-centred design research on designdex.org.

Related research topics

design process design research · evidence on design process · does design process improve design outcomes · making design studies for designers · design process and making design findings · user-centred design research evidence