This design case is about Emotional Design Theory in application to the design of pandemic face masks. As we know designers rely strongly on theoretical knowledge in making design moves. To understand how students may learn to apply theory, research was conducted to test the effectiveness of an assessment called Design CUE (Conceptual…

This paper provides an overview of an experiential activity that students conduct outside of class. It focuses on students' carriage of physical items (such as books, clothing, and photos) that (a) are meaningful to them and (b) collectively weigh approximately three pounds. The activity is used to highlight the "weight" of psychological…

Since the reopening of schools after COVID-19, students and staff have been required to wear face masks. Some students, including those with extensive support needs (ESN), may have difficulty in wearing these novel protective garments. Fortunately, researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of several procedures for supporting the wearing of…

Instructors teaching during this unprecedented time in history must find ways of engaging students from behind the mask. As a result of the pandemic, my colleagues and I have discovered that students do not respond or participate in the ways they once did. In the classroom, students have become silent spectators, hiding behind the mask, making it…

The current article was inspired by two incongruous phenomena: the perception of the lack of gender sensitivity and inclusiveness in a particular language textbook and the coronavirus disease pandemic. As we went completely remote over the past 2.5 semesters, students were encouraged to address those issues via chat and voice modalities. If there…

The process of moving the physical design studio experience, where social interaction is a guiding principle, into a detached virtual environment during the COVID pandemic has prompted design educators to re-evaluate what constitutes a traditional studio-based learning system. This shift is based on classroom experiences after design educators…