The Hybrid Designer

Between September 17 and December 14, 2007, Jaime Barrett observed third year design students enrolled in a course at Emily Carr Institute in Vancouver, British Columbia. The course, titled Interaction Design, was taught and devised by Louise St. Pierre, an Associate Professor of Industrial Design. The purpose of the course was to learn and apply co-creation as a method for both graphic and industrial design students. Her main question while researching the classroom was whether primary research (such as co-creation) could create new avenues to inspire the designer''s creative process; and if these personal connections could be transferred onto the design itself. In other words, to see if the designer felt compelled to create design solutions that directly reflected his / her specific audience.