Exploring Information and Communication Theory in Graphic Design Education with Activity Theory

Abstract

In the context of a university in a developing country, large class size and inadequate studio space have become the bane of graphic design educators. Students go through the process of ideation with limited lecturer-student interaction. The problem has been compounded by the introduction of information and communication technology (ICT), which should be used as an advantage rather than a menace, since educators are not clear with the right pedagogy for ideation. This paper discusses the application of activity theory as a lens, in analysing the process of ideation as a way of looking at distortions in the current pedagogy. It concludes with the conviction that ICT has radically changed students learning practice. Educators need to find a way of tackling this, especially when large classes seem to be emerging.

Fixation in Visual Communication: Ideational Issues

“…Tarbox (2006) asserts that "activity theory provides a platform for designers to look at all the components of a specific situation [activity like ideation], and it impacts the way we approach design by looking carefully" at the factors that influence a design activity. Appiah & Cronjé (2013) used activity theory to explore ideation activities among students in the use of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) and the challenges of ideation in graphic design. They identified "disturbances in the ideation process of graphic design with ICT, especially within large class in a developing country" Appiah & Cronjé (2013).…”

“…Appiah & Cronjé (2013) used activity theory to explore ideation activities among students in the use of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) and the challenges of ideation in graphic design. They identified "disturbances in the ideation process of graphic design with ICT, especially within large class in a developing country" Appiah & Cronjé (2013). Using interviews and observations, students were studied on how they interact with tools in the ideation process with the current developments in ICT.…”

“…Using interviews and observations, students were studied on how they interact with tools in the ideation process with the current developments in ICT. In concluding, Appiah and Cronjé (2013) believed that there is the need for "an activity-oriented framework that relates to graphic design" for studying ideation in graphic design.…”

Teoria da Atividade como ferramenta para analisar o trote universitário

“…A teoria fornece uma série de construções, concentrando-se nas atividades como a unidade de análise. Estas atividades são orientadas por um objetivo e fruto da interação de um sujeito com um objeto através do uso de ferramentas mediadoras (Appiah & Cronjé, 2013).…”

Μελέτη Της Φύσης Των Φυσικών Επιστημών

“…Από την Κορνελάκη (2018, σελ. 2) καταγράφεται ποικιλία τομέων στους οποίους χρησιμοποιείται η θεωρία της Δραστηριότητας, όπως πέραν της ανάπτυξης προγραμμάτων σπουδών και διδασκαλίας σε όλα τα εκπαιδευτικά επίπεδα, στην παροχή φροντίδας και ψυχικής υγείας, στη στρατηγική και διαχείριση οργανωτικών διαδικασιών, στο σχεδιασμό ψηφιακών τεχνολογιών, την ανίχνευση της μηχανογράφησης, του αρχιτεκτονικού σχεδιασμού, την ανάπτυξη της δημόσιας πολιτικής, στην αστική ανάπτυξη, σε ψηφιακές βιβλιοθήκες, όπως επίσης και κατά τη διάρκεια διαχειριστικών αλλαγών σε γραφεία (Suratmethakul & Hasan, 2004), στην εκπαίδευση στο σχεδιασμό γραφικών (Appiah & Cronje, 2013), στην οργάνωση προγραμμάτων σε σχολικές βιβλιοθήκες (Meyers, 2007), ομαδικές ερευνητικές εργασίες φοιτητών μηχανικής (Jones, 2014), σχεδιασμό ηλεκτρονικών παιχνιδιών (Carvalho et al, 2015) ή στην αλληλεπίδραση ανθρώπου -υπολογιστή (Kaptelinin, Nardi, 2012).…”