The Centre of Studies for Interior Architecture (CoSIA), from the Faculty of Architecture, Planning, and Surveying (FSPU), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia conducted an international webinar on 23 October 2020, to discuss the topic of ‘Challenges in Design Education’.
This panel session aimed to identify and discuss the challenges of design education and how we can move forward. Both panelists agreed on how design education will always be relevant, while technology plays its part in delivering the pedagogy and executing design skills. The process and critical design thinking are still significant in the interdisciplinary design field.
The two panelists were from Turkey and Malaysia, which provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on the challenges in design education, especially in the context of the global Covid-19 crisis. CoSIA lecturer, Muhammad Danial Ismail played the role of moderator for this discussion session. This webinar was also attended by the Dean of FSPU, Prof. TPr. Dr. Jamalunlaili Abdullah.
The first panelist, Assistant Professor Dr. Moira Valeri from Yeditepe University Istanbul, has been teaching since 2013. In 2015 she was the co-curator of EcoWeek Istanbul-Contemporary Archeology, an international symposium, and workshop held at Yeditepe University. In 2016 she coordinated the research and installation – Factory Reloaded – within the 3rd Istanbul Design Biennial frame. Two years later she participated at the 4th Istanbul Design Biennial as a tutor at the workshop and exhibition – Bosphorus SMLXL.
The panelist from Malaysia, Mohd Noor Ariffin, is currently the Coordinator of Design for the Centre of Studies for Interior Architecture and has design teaching experience for more than 20 years at the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). He is also the Managing Director for RUANG STUDIO and Principal for the RUANG DESIGN company based in Selangor, Malaysia.
CoSIA on behalf of FSPU are thankful to Assistant Professor Dr. Moira Valeri and Senior Lecturer Mohd Noor Ariffin for the beneficial exchange of knowledge during this webinar session. This dialogue between two regions gives new impetus to design academia to resiliently move forward in 21st-century education.