The development of DESIGNintro: a multiple media programme for teaching design through remote access

This paper describes progress to date on an innovative IT based concept for teaching which is currently being developed by staff in the School of Art and Design at the University of Ulster. It is being produced to address a number of changes which currently impact upon the teaching of design. The pressure on existing foundation education created by reducing discretionary awards, the poorer quality of supply from the secondary sector due to the dropping of art and design as a compulsory study are two of the negative elements being addressed. It also addresses the increasing need for design as a primary skillbase within aspects of informatics, media, business, technology and communication studies make the creation of an open access remotely delivered design experience a beneficial cognate activity for students who are joining these courses. The proposed course comprises six modules which are Introductory Studies, Design in Context, Design in Industry Innovation and Change, Research Practice and Discipline Project. They contain an information base, interactive material, reference reading and viewing and assessable practical project work. It is delivered by Multiple Media using an Internet spine complemented by electronic, video and print delivery. The dynamic section of the course runs on a WWW site maximising audience access, user independence and retrievable information resource. Emerging technology applications will progressively enlarge the potential.