Testing a culture-based design pedagogy: A case study

Research findings from a study by Jani and Asojo of interior design educators indicated the need for design discourse and instructional approaches on non-Western cultures that promote diverse multicultural perspectives in education. To help address this issue, a cultural framework of five constructs was developed and applied in third- and fourth-year interior design studios. Students were assigned the task of design problem-solving for spaces in Nigerian, South African, and Native American settings. This chapter provides insights into this cultural framework and instructional approach. It provides educators with a pedagogical model to help students view the world from multiple perspectives. The abstract and concrete constructs of social dynamics, juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary culture, visual and performance arts, elements and principles of design, and sustainability discussed in the chapter offer one lens through which educators can study and incorporate multicultural and non-Western concepts into their design studios.