Trials and trails: do HE design students need museum learning resources

Abstract

There is a lack of collaboration between universities and museums in supporting design students’ learning and a corresponding lack of targeted learning resources. This paper focuses on the ‘iGuides from StreetAccess’ project, which has involved the creation of 20 web-based trails for design students to access on PDAs at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It reports initial findings from the evaluation of two trails, detailing aspects of trail design and their possible usefulness to students. It suggests that such materials can encourage students to develop object-based learning skills - skills which design tutors may perceive as innate or best left to develop with a minimum of direction. It concludes that museums can usefully supply HE design students with guidance and suggest ways of engaging with its collections.