The aspirations and expectations of the Design programme at CIS are to:

• Guide students in developing the confidence to solve real, authentic problems in creative ways.
• Build students’ understanding in the use of the design thinking process as an effective way to solve problems.
• Encourage students to prototype ideas, iterate and innovate without giving up.
• Support students in developing independence in solving problems by understanding how to engage with the people and resources around them.
• Make visible the role of a designer in the real world and what impact they can have in making positive change.
• Develop students’ understanding of the relationship between client/user and the problem.

How do we teach Design?

Teaching and learning in Design is most powerful when:

• Lessons are engaging, hands-on and practical.
• The learner’s voice is integral to the planning and teaching process
• Students can see the impact of their design by creating real products/solutions for real people.
• Students understand and practice collaboration in the Design cycle process.
• Students learn through authentic and age appropriate real world problems.
• Exploration is safe, and learning from failure is encouraged.

The experience of Design at CIS is be one which:

• Embraces the Design cycle by exploring the following:

• Problem solving skills
• Creative thinking skills
• Communication skills
• Active and passive research
• Evaluating and testing