Integrating Digital Media in the Education of Design Skills

In this paper we discuss the application of new opportunities and chances of digital learning in design education by means of the implementation of a digital sketching forum into a sketching course. The so called ‘blended learning’ method combines face to face education and a digital forum called SketchLab where students can watch instructional movies (SketchTube) and discuss their designs with each other but also with teachers. The first results of using SketchLab are promising. Students encouraged each other to improve their skills and implement new techniques and the activity on SketchLab continued also after the workshops. The use of this specific digital sketching forum led to more activity in the design process of students and encouraged them to improve their sketching techniques and to become better designers.