Distinctions and Blurred Boundaries
MULTIDISCIPLINARY DESIGN SYMPOSIUM
@ UoN
After nearly forty years of introducing multidisciplinary design practice to education and creative industry and embracing its role in education and economy growth in the UK, there is still a lack of consensus about what the term ‘multidisciplinary’ actually means. One definition proposes that ‘it describes situations in which several disciplines cooperate but remain unchanged'1.
Besides the questionable implication to the immutability of disciplines while practicing multidisciplinary, the definition fails to expand to the challenges facing the practitioner nor to the potential of benefits acquired. As academics, designers and researchers we all have experienced both benefits and impairments of multidisciplinary approaches to material and conceptual thinking and application.
The aim of this symposium is to explore the meaning, risks and benefits of multidisciplinary design in academic and/or professional contexts and to discuss the significance of distinctions between creative disciplines in both contexts as well as the blurred boundaries in between.
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Academics, creative practitioners and researchers are invited to share their views on this relevant topic. Focus of paper presentations are encouraged to be about your personal experience and/or view on one of the following*:
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The connotations, risks and benefits of multidisciplinary design in academic contexts; research or teaching and learning multidisciplinary design.
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The connotations, risks and benefits of multidisciplinary design in professional context; working with others towards corporate aims using multidisciplinary design.
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The distinctions between creative disciplines in industry and/or academia.
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The blurred boundaries between creative disciplines in industry and/or academia.
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*Please note that points of focus are not limited to the above. You are welcome to submit your own preference of focus on the subject. Presentations can include creative output i.e. personal or contextual creative practice, videos, designs, multimedia projects, etc.
1. Design Council (2010) The Multidisciplinary Design Network Report on Multidisciplinary Design Education in UK. Retrieved from http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/asset/document/multi-disciplinary-design-education.pdf (Last accessed 3rd Oct.2017).
Paper Submission Deadline
26th Jan 18
Symposium Date
27th Apr 18
Attendance Registration by
13th April 18
Schedule
10:00
Registration | Refreshments
10:45
Welcome by Dr. Hala Georges
11:00
Alex Taylor | Q&A
11:30
Vicki Thomas | Q &A
12:00
Will Hoon | Q&A
13:30
Benjamin Hunt & Luke Jones | Q &A
14:00
Liz Coulter - Smith | Q &A
14:30
Dr. Ali Al-Sherbaz & Daniel McCaul | Q &A
15:00
Closing Remarks by Dr. Hala Georges
15:15
Refreshments
12:30
Lunch
Friday
27th Apr 18
Refreshments Room MR34
Event Room MR36
Maidwell
Avenue Campus
The University of Northampton
St. George's Avenue
Northampton
NN2 6JD
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