Towards a "better normal": educational experiences in Design in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors

  • Rejane Spitz Laboratorio de Arte Eletrônica, Departamento de Artes & Design, PUC-Rio https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9837-3387
  • Jose Rafael González Díaz Departamento de Arte, Arquitectura y Diseño, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali
  • Sebero Ugarte Calleja Department of Arts, Architecture and Design Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali
  • Amparo Álvarez Meythaler Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
  • Xavier Barriga Abril Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
  • Julio Membreño Idiáquez Universidad Centro-americana (UCA)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.21

Abstract

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has demanded the adoption of extraordinary measures of quarantine and social distancing, impacting educational institutions worldwide. Schools and campuses – which used to be spaces for social exchange – had to cease face-to-face instruction and shift to remote learning with no prior planning or training, which posed several challenges to education systems around the globe. In Latin America – responsible, today, for over half of the planet’s daily COVID-19-related deaths - this scenario is even more dramatic. The diverse socioeconomic levels of the student population is a major challenge for online teaching, as institutions cannot provide computer training, equipment and connectivity to all those in need. In spite of all challenges, universities which are part of AUSJAL (Association of Universities Entrusted to the Society of Jesus in Latin America) are making every effort to offer online classes during this pandemic, since education plays a pivotal role in these countries. This paper presents a selection of Design educational experiences conducted in AUSJAL universities during this pandemic. Design educators from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Nicaragua present educational methods and strategies for dealing with this critical situation. In conclusion, we discuss how their innovative and engaging teaching ideas are paving the way towards not simply a new, but  a “better normal” in Latin America.

Author Biographies

Rejane Spitz, Laboratorio de Arte Eletrônica, Departamento de Artes & Design, PUC-Rio

Rejane Spitz (Brazil)

Full Professor at the Department of Art & Design at Rio de Janeiro Catholic University (PUC-Rio), in Brazil, where she coordinates the Electronic Art Lab and teaches at both graduate and undergraduate courses. She has a Ph.D. in Education from PUC-RIO (1993), a M. Arts in Graphic Design (1983) from the Central School of Art & Design (London, UK), a B. Arts in Industrial Design (1979) and a B. Arts in Visual Communication (1979) from PUC-RIO. She was a Postdoctoral researcher at CADRE-Laboratory for New Media /San Jose State University (California, USA) in 2003, and a Visiting Scholar at the University of California at Berkeley’s Space Sciences Lab in 2002. At PUC-Rio, she has supervised a total of about 50 Master's dissertations and Doctoral theses in Arts and Design. Rejane has been working with computers in the Arts since 1983. Her artworks, projects and writings – which focus on social and cultural issues related to the use of digital technologies - have been published on major peerreviewed journals and exhibited at international shows and conferences around the world, in countries such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, England, Finland, France, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Spain, United States and Uruguay. Rejane was the Curator of the Virtual Reality Art Festival series (Mostra de Realidade Virtual), held annually at Centro Cultural Candido Mendes, Rio de Janeiro (1995 - 2000). She has been a volunteer member of the ACM SIGGRAPH Education Committee since 1991, and a member of the LEONARDO/ISAST (MIT Press) Advisory Board since 1992.

 

Jose Rafael González Díaz, Departamento de Arte, Arquitectura y Diseño, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali

Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Arts, Architecture and Design, at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Colombia. Professor at the Visual Communication Design program, at the Master's degree in Marketing and at the Master's degree in Business Administration, at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Colombia. Visiting Professor for the Master Degree Program in Innovation and Design Management, ISAD, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Mexico.Doctor by the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain, Program of Methods and Techniques of Industrial and Graphic design, with Cum Laude distinction. Master in Design, Management and Development of New Products, by the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain, and specialization in Techniques and Methods of Industrial and Graphic Design at the same institution. Postgraduate degree in Environmental Planning and Sustainable Development at the Latin American Forum of Environmental Sciences -FLACAM-, UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Development, La Plata, Argentina. Architect with Cum Laude distinction, University of Los Andes, Merida, Venezuela. Director of the Visual Communication Design Program at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Colombia (2014-2019). Researcher, consultant and guest lecturer at Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain, tenure professor and Director of the School of Industrial Design at University of Los Andes, Merida, Venezuela. Lecturer in different international events, experience in consulting activities and projects of design management, design methodology, systemic design, strategic design and innovation management. Participation in framework agreements with companies to conduct research and development of products and services in fields such as design driven by user experience, emotional design and processes of value co-creation between organizations and individuals. Participation in different national and international research projects funded by institutions such as the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the University of Los Andes, the Polytechnic University of Valencia, and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali.

Sebero Ugarte Calleja, Department of Arts, Architecture and Design Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali

Professor of the Department of Arts, Architecture and Design, at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Colombia. Professor at the Visual Communication Design program and Visual Arts, at the Master's Degree in Sustainable Habitat at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Colombia. Professor for the Program Specialization of Environment Design, IUCMC, Cauca, Colombia. Ph.D. by the Autonomous University of Barcelona, (UAB) Spain, Program of Philoshophy, Aesthetics and Theory of Arts with Cum Laude distinction. Master in Research Philosophy, by the Autonomous University of Barcelona, (UAB) Spain and specialization inThink Art Today by the Autonomous University of Barcelona, (UAB) Spain. Degree of Fine Arts, University of the Basque Country,Leioa, España.

 

 

Amparo Álvarez Meythaler, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador

Senior lecturer at the Faculty ofArchitecture, Design and Arts, at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. Engineer in Industrial Design, with a Master’s in Advanced Design from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Researcher in the areas of Strategic Design, Design Management in Companies, Design and Process Management of Products and Services Innovation, and Design of Business Models for Entrepreneurship.

Xavier Barriga Abril, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador

Professor of Interactive Design atthe Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, his research interests are space and mixed realities and animal-computer performance. Holds a BA in Design from PUCE Ecuador, and a MSc in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Nottingham, UK. Has received national and international awards for his works, such as ‘Caracol de Plata’, Mexico 2010; ‘Ruta Hack for video games designers’, Quito 2018; ‘Bienal Iberoamericano de Diseño’, Madrid 2019, among others.

Julio Membreño Idiáquez, Universidad Centro-americana (UCA)

Masters in Pedagogics for Disaster Risk Reduction. Head of Graphic Design School at UCA Nicaragua and Strategic Design & Innovation Master Program. Coordinator of Service Learning Projects for sustainability at the Faculty of Science, Technology & Environment UCA at Bosawas, Biosphere Reserve.

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Published

2020-12-23

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2020): Sep/Dec

Section

Challenges of online education

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