Exploring the use of learning and teaching strategies in visual communication to improve the use of drawing and sketching

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore how teaching and learning strategies in the module Visual Communication can be adapted to include drawing and sketching methods to encourage design students to utilise freehand drawing and sketching during the first phase of the design process. Quantitative research was conducted based on a cross-sectional survey design. Students were asked to solve a design problem before and after an intervention. Data was captured using a questionnaire and results were analysed through the use of numerical counts-frequencies, and is presented graphically. Findings indicate that teaching and learning strategies can be successfully adapted to include drawing and sketching methods to encourage design students to better understand, and make use of these abilities and techniques, during the initial phase of the design process.