Material Education in Design: From Literature Review to Rethinking

The world of materials for design is continually changing and evolving, not only thanks to technological advancements, but also thanks to the continuous original applications by designers, as well as the reinterpretation and understanding by design researchers that reveal new ideas, suggestions and unconventional paths. It is essential and fundamental for design educators to understand how to educate students and let them be autonomous and prepared for the choice or creation of materials and processes to complete their projects nowadays. The material is not only the object but also the tool or media around which most of the design education shapes: transferring the knowledge of materials’ technical properties or experiential qualities to design students is essential, and in the process of materialising the design projects, students are also being educated by their hands-on experiences. This paper provides a literature review to interpret the nature of material education in design and lists significant aspects. It is structured into four parts: the role of material in design education; learning through practice with materials; considerations on the material in design; and the highlighted aspects in material teaching and learning processes. This paper lays the foundation for future material education research.