Metaphors in Design Curricula

Metaphors are central to the way we see and shape the world, and identifying metaphors can help to question how certain issues are explained or set-up, thereby opening up a range of opportunities for design. This paper explores how metaphors can contribute to understanding theories and models, as well as problems and opportunities in design courses at different levels. Following the introduction, section two and three introduce metaphors, and identify the roles metaphors play in design and design education with help of analyzing three examples in design curriculum. The fourth and final section discusses educational implications of metaphors as tools to inspire and facilitate knowledge generation in design curricula.