Pedagogy and Professional Development

Aligning Sustainability Design Education with Professional Perspectives: Addressing Discrepancies

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Abstract

Circular Systems Thinking frameworks are vital for creating sustainable products but integrating them into design education presents challenges. Aligning policies with student learning outcomes highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement with external stakeholders to enhance sustainability education.This study identifies gaps between professionals' expectations and current sustainability design education through a web-based survey of 183 U.S. design industry professionals. Results indicate that professionals prioritize Potential Toxicity (M = 4.00) and Human-Centric Design (M = 3.95) for sustainable projects. Participants noted varying effectiveness of design education, highlighting strengths in critical thinking and systematic problem-solving. They emphasized the multifaceted nature of sustainability, incorporating ethical considerations, environmental impacts, marketability, and teamwork. The findings emphasize the importance of a holistic approach to sustainable design education. Integrating diverse skills and perspectives into university curricula will better prepare design students as industry professionals who value sustainability knowledge.

Keywords: sustainability, design education, design industry, professional perspective

How to Cite:

Park, J. P., Gam, H., Stark, J. & Trippeer, B. C., (2025) “Aligning Sustainability Design Education with Professional Perspectives: Addressing Discrepancies”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 81(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.18831