Enhancing Diversity Through Design Education: A Mixed-Methods Case Study of the Development of a Design-Learning Tool for Minority Youth

dc.contributor.advisorKwon, EunSook
dc.contributor.committeeMemberFeng, Jeff F.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberHenderson, Jerrod A.
dc.creatorWhite, Cameron
dc.creator.orcid0000-0002-2264-9324
dc.date.accessioned2021-07-15T02:43:10Z
dc.date.available2021-07-15T02:43:10Z
dc.date.createdMay 2020
dc.date.issued2020-05
dc.date.submittedMay 2020
dc.date.updated2021-07-15T02:43:11Z
dc.description.abstractDesign-focused research has shown how diversity-related considerations are central to the design process; yet and still, racially minoritized individuals are largely absent from the field of professional design. Such existing disparities in racial representation are not due to a shortage of potential designers of color, rather a lack in access to design education and resources within racially minoritized communities. With this in mind, this study highlights and disrupts the minimal focus on design education within communities of color. In addition to enhancing diversity within the design industry, expanding the reach of design education is also beneficial students’ personal development. Grounded in the notion that teaching design thinking aids individuals in building key skills that translate to a variety of situations beyond design, this thesis explores the development and application of a design toolkit and programmatic model which aims to facilitate design education in focal communities. Minorities’ Opportunity to Learn Design (MOLD) is an equity-driven platform that delivers a physical and digital experience to design thinking and learning. Using an exploratory sequential approach, this mix-methods case study examines the development and application of MOLD in real-world settings. The study’s hypothesis asserts that providing design access and resources to racially minoritized students will increase their awareness of design, perceived value of design, and knowledge of the design thinking process. The findings of this case study support the research hypothesis, as the results indicate that awareness and perceived value of design increased among participants' after their interactions with the MOLD design-learning platform.
dc.description.departmentArchitecture and Design, Gerald D. Hines College of
dc.format.digitalOriginborn digital
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/7859
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).
dc.subjectDesign-learning
dc.subjectDesign Thinking
dc.subjectDesign-based education
dc.subjectminority students
dc.subjectMOLD
dc.subjectDesign thinking for minority children
dc.subjectdesign thinking in education
dc.titleEnhancing Diversity Through Design Education: A Mixed-Methods Case Study of the Development of a Design-Learning Tool for Minority Youth
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.genreThesis
thesis.degree.collegeGerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design
thesis.degree.departmentArchitecture and Design, Gerald D. Hines College of
thesis.degree.disciplineIndustrial Design
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Houston
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
WHITE-THESIS-2020.pdf
Size:
8.29 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
PROQUEST_LICENSE.txt
Size:
4.43 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
LICENSE.txt
Size:
1.81 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description: