As part of the RGD 2021 Design Educators Conference (The Association of Registered Graphic Designers), I presented research on teaching social impact assessment to undergraduate students in graphic design disciplines.
I believe graphic designers have a responsibility to recognize the potential impact their design work has on the world around them. Therefore, teaching students how to assess design work in terms of impact goals and outcomes through objective data collection methods shows students just how powerful and effective design can be in shifting behaviors and attitudes of people and empowers them to take action and have voice in their communities. This is an important skill that designers need to be taught in addition to our expected skills in visual design development and comprehension of media and materials.
This presentation shared a project that I’ve led with students over the years to help them learn these skills. Beyond learning impact assessment, I’ve found teaching students how to assess work (for any outcome) empowers them to be active learners in their educational experiences. This skill is a great way for students to learn how to access the success of their work independently, based on pre-determined parameters, beyond the affirmation and acknowledgement from just me (their professors) and peers, for example.
My presentation entitled “Graphic Design and Visual Communication: A Powerful Tool was part of the “Empower” track, held April 9, 2021. In response to COVID, RGD planned the 5th Design Educators Conference as a virtual Webinar Series format that ran from January – April 2021.
To see the published abstract, click here.
