Appraisal of the professional training of industrial design students based on experiences in rural contexts

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to determine the significance and importance of rural workshop implementation in professional and technical training of Industrial Design students. Based on qualitative approach, the study utilized in-depth interviews and discourse analysis to examine the significance of working in rural areas for undergraduate students. Special emphasis on learning relationship about local communities and rural diversity were studied. The research used a case study for exploring 24 student working experience in the Comuna of Yumbel (Chile), in 2008. The results suggest that is necessary to deepen in innovative formative process for undergraduate students by incorporating methodologies of learning based on experience. In the case of Industrial Design, the rural workshop was an opportunity to meet social needs, promote the design applied to rurality and strengthen rural citizenship.