Evaluating the Effect of Applying Interdisciplinary Collaboration Methods in the Process of Solving Design Problems by Industrial Design Undergraduates in Iranian Universities

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Industrial Design, Art and Architecture Faculty, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran.

Abstract

In today’s design education, interdisciplinary collaboration offers significant advantages for industrial design students. Among the most important benefits are the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills, increased innovation, better handling of complex, multi-faceted issues, and improved preparation for entering the professional design field. This study examines the impact of interdisciplinary collaboration on the comprehensiveness of design solutions. Based on the main hypothesis, incorporating interdisciplinary collaboration in design education enhances students’ ability to provide comprehensive solutions in the problem-solving process. This research follows an experimental approach based on hypothesis testing, employing a mixed-methods (quantitative and qualitative) approach. The main hypothesis was tested through comparative analysis on two groups of undergraduate students (interdisciplinary and non-interdisciplinary) in their sixth semester at Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, selected using a non-probability sampling method. The students were asked to generate ideas using brainstorming and mind mapping techniques for a design problem. To quantify qualitative data, five factors were defined: integration of diverse perspectives, alignment with the design problem, consideration of various user needs, diversity in idea generation, and comprehensiveness. A five-point Likert scale was used for expert evaluation of different levels of integration for each qualitative factor. Subsequently, an independent t-test was conducted using SPSS software to compare the mean scores of the two groups. The significance level of 0.000 (less than 0.05) indicates a significant difference between the means of the two groups, confirming the study’s main hypothesis and rejecting the null hypothesis.

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References

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Journal of Design Thinking
Volume 5, Issue 1
June 2024
Pages 129-140

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