Computers in Design Education

Abstract

This article is a condensed version of a larger study entitled Design with Computers, Design for Computers, Computers for Design-Enhanced Creativity; Proposal for a Computer Implementation Model for a College of Art and Design. The plan deals with all areas of education that the Rhode Island School of Design is responsible for: freshman foundation, liberal arts, the library, the museum, and first of all the degree programs in art, design, and architecture. For the purpose of this presentation, emphasis is placed on computers in relation to art and design. The plan’s main ideas are: 1) What computers can do for design; 2) What designers (and future designers) in the educational environment can do for computers and computer-aided technology. The characteristics of the college and its relations with nearby colleges and businesses were carefully considered in light of the state of the art in computer technology and software.