Facing global change: Strengthening lifelong learning in interior design education. Different Approaches: Theory and Practice in Higher Education.

Abstract

Interior Design education needs to evolve to keep up with continuous global change. This topic is explored through an emerging Department of Interior Design at Curtin University. The department is addressing these issues in the 4 year Bachelor of Interior Design program being developed for 1997 (replacing the current 3 year program).The design world is going through a major transition, brought about by shifts in the world; electronic communication, deregulation, global economics, and environmental crisis. These changes affect the function and requirements of building interiors, highlighting the need for flexibility.Due to these continual changes, the need for developing lifelong learning skills in education are paramount in order to lead, or at least to survive, a demanding and continually changing marketplace. Response to these changes must occur within education and the profession.This case study will explore the above issues. We illustrate how life long learning skills are developed through an International design competition.