Fostering design collaboration: Novel ICT tools to support contemporary design pedagogy

Professional design practice is in a period of flux and transformation. Technology is rendering the design process increasingly collaborative, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural, and design studios are increasingly dependant on information and communication technology (ICT). There is a need to reflect these changes in design education, and to train students in the new skills required for industry. This arti- cle examines how ICT may be incorporated into design education to enable more collaborative, modern and interactive learning processes to be introduced to better prepare students for professional careers. In addressing this topic, the article exam- ines emerging research that seeks to integrate developments in ICT systems into the higher education design curriculum. The article suggests how such platforms can be adapted to meet the needs of students and tutors, whilst meeting the contemporary requirements of the creative industries. The authors conclude that ICT offers a means of enhancing and complementing existing modes of design pedagogy.