Design (Module 3)

There are some subtle links between the art of design and teaching. I can see several imaginary bridges between the two but the most obvious to me may be the least obvious to my colleagues. The bridge that these two professions seem to share is in the diverse ideas and perceptions of those who work inside these industries. There seem to be no shortage of banter about what works and doesn’t work in each of these professions.

Sarah Susanka reveals what she believes is an issue that exists in the contemporary world of design. This problem lies with the “bigger is better” trend that is all too common in the design of most American homes. Susanka is clearly against this popular trend. She believes that many designers are missing the mark when it comes to understanding what the masses want. They don’t seem to comprehend that people tend to steer toward small spaces inside those mini-mansions. Therefore designers aren’t tapping into what people want or need in a home. Susanka firmly believes that the focus on everything big goes against the grain of what most people want, which is a desire for small spaces.

So how do design trends or opinions on design trends tie into teaching? Well, in the educational community there is a wide array of diverse ideas about the best way to teach. There are educators who believe the best way to teach is with traditional measures or a focus on reading, writing, and arithmetic. There are others in the profession who believe a more progressive approach works better. This includes allowing students to have a greater say in what and how they learn.

Although I am not an expert on design, I recognize that it is similar to teaching in one major way. There isn’t a one size fits all answer that applies in every situation for either professions. For example, for every client that Susanka believes prefers small spaces, there are probably an equal amount of individuals who favor those super-sized rooms instead. Such is the case in the educational community. There is not a general consensus on the best way to teach. There are educators who believe that a traditional or highly conservative approach to teaching is more beneficial to students, but there are also a substantial number of educators who prefer Dewey’s progressive methodology instead.

So who is right on this issue? Actually, it may seem a bit wish washy to say, but probably both sides. A traditional approach to teaching may work well for some students, while a progressive approach works better for others. I would presume that the same theory holds true in interior design. Some people prefer small spaces, others prefer larger ones. Is one designer more right than another to cater to their specific group? Definitely not. Just like in teaching, it is good to have a variety of methods to successfully reach your core audience.