A blog about design at the OU.
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Nigel Cross on Design Thinking
A is for Architecture, a podcast series run by Ambrose Gillick of Kent University, invited Nigel Cross, a renowned expert in design thinking, to discuss his research. Cross is an Emeritus Professor at the Open University (OU) and a pioneer in distance design education. He has significantly influenced the field through his work as the […]
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Shaping inclusive futures with your design career
Are you a design student embarking on a new journey? Wondering where your skills can take you and the impact you can make? In this blog post, I explore design careers with a focus on inclusive futures. I’ll start by summarising the insights from a Careers and Employability Service event at OU in March 2024, featuring a diverse panel of designers, […]
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Decoding Design Psychology
A journey through the intersections of design and the mind by Rachel A.Wood There are different estimates of the number of designers who come from a psychology 𝚿 background, but in human centred design – estimates are likely to be around 10-20%. Being as I am passionate about psychology (which much of my past education […]
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A Student’s Perspective: Belonging in the Digital Age – Teaching and Learning Conference 2024
A guest article by Cindy Darbandi As a recent Design graduate from the OU’s School of Engineering and Innovation, I had the incredible opportunity to participate as a student speaker at the Advance HE Annual Teaching and Learning conference in Nottingham this July (2nd-4th). The theme resonated deeply: redefining higher education through new learning […]
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Women’s research @ Engineering & Innovation showcase
To celebrate the International Women in Engineering Day 2024 (#INWED24), we organised an online event to showcase some of the cutting-edge research carried out by our women researchers at the School of Engineering and Innovation (E&I) at The Open University (OU). In this event, women researchers at different stages of the research career presented their […]
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Back to the Future: can we nurture transformational design?
A few months ago, I was asked by the journal of the Town and Country Planning Association to write a short article as part of the TCPA’s 125th anniversary. Back in 1898 the TCPA was instrumental in promoting the Garden Cities/New Towns concept and today remains a forum for more radical thinking in urban and […]
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Digital Transformation in Finance: Key Takeaways from the Banking Summit
The banking sector, long seen as a bastion of tradition, is undergoing a transformation driven by digital innovation and a renewed focus on user-centric design. At the heart of this transformation is a shift in thinking that prioritises understanding and meeting users’ real needs. As we explore the role of design in banking, it becomes […]
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Adventures in design: a curiosity-driven career
Taking the plunge to study for a career in any field is a bold and purposeful step in life. To pursue a creative career takes perhaps an even bolder leap of faith when the array of potential work roles is so diverse and constantly evolving. Design roles today are no exception. More younger adults are […]
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T190: Design practices – Module overview
T190: Design practices is the first of a series of new modules that will form the brand new Bachelor of Design qualification (BDes). T190 provides a foundation in design practice by introducing the principles and skills from topics in different creative and design disciplines. These principles and skills are learned by applying them to a […]
