Experience is learning: the Piazza Grace case study

The experiential learning activity presented in this case study integrates embodied processes and participatory practices to enhance sensory-emotional awareness in interior design students and help them understand how to consider the design of spaces from the experience of others, in this instance by bridging the gap between their sensory world and that of elderly people with dementia. Expanding on established sensory-emotional research and theories of experiential learning, the activity is structured across four processes, exploration, participation, interpretation and realisation, each building on the previous one. The role of the teaching team, students’ engagement and participants’ engagement are discussed, and a presentation of outcomes is followed by a summary of findings, including feedback from students. This case study advocates the value of experiential learning in supporting future learning and practices that enable young interior designers to better integrate empathy and diversity in their design.

The 7th International Conference for Design Education Researchers, LearnXDesign 2023, was convened as a call for papers and publication of proceedings. This allowed an extended review and development period for authors to develop submissions and the process ran from January to December 2023. 236 authors from 32 countries contributed 106 final submissions. Peer review was double blind by a 135 member international scientific panel. Each submission was also reviewed by the Academic Committee, comprising the seven members of the EdSIG Convening Group. Submission types included: research papers, case studies, conversations, and visual papers. In addition, this year saw the introduction of conversations, letters and statements of pedagogy. The overall acceptance rate across all submission categories was 60%. The LearnXDesign conferences are organised by the DRS Special Interest Group in Design Education (EdSIG).

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