Thirteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

A concrete definition to service learning, would be learning doing service. This project describes the experience to apply the methodology of service learning within a Design Identity Systems course, offered to students in the sophomore year, and how its application helped students understand the “being” and the “doing” of a responsible citizen and designer, and to awaken to help communities with less opportunities than theirs; to see in the practice of design not only a mere solution to a visual problem, but to understand that they can be capable to develop something good to help their community. How can we help design students follow this practice and let them notice that indeed, design can help communities and they, as responsible citizens would help make this change? We worked together with Zihuame Mochilla Association, and association which empowers indigenous women immigrants to the state of Nuevo León. These women make their living doing what they do best, or what they have learned from the mothers or grandmothers. They look for a better way of living selling their products among their communities, in markets, outside stores, at intersections on some streets. They support their families and are not happy with the little income they get. They know their products are very good and they want to improve their business.