Learning Objective
Students of design collaborate across disciplines, integrating innovative scientific, environmental, and sociological research and diverse perspectives into their design processes. They approach complex challenges with a multidisciplinary mindset, leveraging methodologies such as co-design and participatory design to co-create impactful and sustainable design solutions.
Biological Strategy
Black-capped chickadees use a warning call–it sounds like “seet”–
to warn other chickadees of a predator in the area. The warning call is so high-pitched and faint that predators, such as owls or hawks, can’t hear it. Chickadees who make this call are giving their fellows an effective advance warning. Other species, including nuthatches, jays, squirrels, and chipmunks also recognize this warning call and will take cover when they hear it. By utilizing this trans-disciplinary warning system, these small animals can spend more of their precious time foraging and less time on alert for predators.
So I think even the idea of collaboration and working with people who have more expertise or different skill sets isn’t emphasized enough in undergraduate and graduate level work.”
- Design Professor, Interview #17
I really, firmly believe in connection with other disciplines. I think design is almost like a tool that is part of this broader toolkit, which is like all of these great minds and all of these different people communicating and thinking together about how to solve these really large scale problems.”
- Design Professor, Interview #23