A Consideration about the Direction of Design Curriculum Composition in University within the Country

As the changing and expansion of design paradigm, the new and various roles of design are needed with escape from industrial based design sphere. Accordingly, the innovation of design education also needed and the re-consideration about design curriculum has been a critical issue. Korean design has had potential problems to cope with the new requirements from industrial, social and academic aspects soon. The aim of this research is finding problems in current design education and to think about the new overall direction of design curriculums which can enhance undergraduate students’ ability to adapt diverse design circumstances. Although the current design curriculums of Korea also have been somewhat evolved, the most composition of curriculums has not enough pure theoretical subjects which are based on natural and social science yet to deal with expanding design sphere which needs integrative thinking; also, not connected way of teaching has been proceeded without integrative composition of each curriculum is insufficient or none. The scope of this research is finding the necessity of interdisciplinary and expanding design education and to capture the direction of design curriculum composition that the industrial and social characteristics and the requirements of Korea are reflected. To find out the current status of Korean design universities and compare the design curriculums in Korea with other foreign design universities', Korean critiques and Governmental organizations' reports were referred through books, journals and web-sites. Regarding the prosperous industry of Korea, gradual switching in integrative curriculum design which can converge and connect current curriculums should be considered as the overall direction of curriculum design.