Integrating Conflict into Early Design Education

Abstract

In contrast to traditional design studios, Community Design studios are opportunities to engage the contingencies that confront real-world design issues.   These types of studios engage community/university partnership approaches with a range of community groups and non-profit organizations.   Students and architectural curriculum benefit because they build the capacity within an architecture program to define problems with an interdisciplinary lens, encompassing a broad spectrum of design challenges.   They rely on a beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.  These learning opportunities are essential for the beginning design student.   Unfortunately, many Community Design opportunities are not available to all students and even then, rarely until late in a students’ design education.