A Case for Integrating the Humanities Within Design Curricula

This paper investigates the effect of interdisciplinarity readings on the creative output produced by undergraduate design students. Readings and discussions are part of the general study course at Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology, electives devoted to studying theories from humanities and natural and social sciences that stand independent from studio courses. In this paper, the concept of post-human will be investigated. This concept was discussed in a course on multidisciplinary perspectives on human cognition. Concepts such as Umwelt proposed by Jakob von Uexküll and Cyborg proposed by post-humanist philosophers were discussed. A chapter from James Elkin’s book Visual World on the philosophical significance of studying animal perception and Donna Haraway’s book Cyborg Manifesto was key texts. The common thread between these texts is the interrogation of the boundaries of the human body and sensorium. Case studies of a few of the design briefs produced by the students showed evidence of critical thinking and engagement with the theories discussed. One design brief was a game designed for 5–10-year-olds that familiarized the child with the lived environments of different species. Another brief constitutes a design brief for an interior space fifty years in the future fit for an enhanced human being. These briefs entail critical reflections on the manifold implications and contexts of practice. The game has its objective of imparting an understanding of ecology that goes beyond looking at individual species and appreciating the multiplicity of worlds that can be accessed through different sensory capabilities. The design for the interior considers the possible loss of human culture and history. These case studies show that engaging with theories from the humanities may help design students develop critical social awareness that can be integrated into design thinking.