The designer collective as a social system of professional learning and development

Forfattere

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7577/formakademisk.6086

Emneord (Nøkkelord):

Designer collectives, community of practice, learning, design practice, professional identity

Sammendrag

This study examines designer collectives as social systems of professional learning and development. Based on a qualitative single case study of a contemporary Danish designer collective, the study analyses seven core members’ experiences of participation through the lens of Wenger’s framework of communities of practice. Eight distinct themes of participation are identified and described as accounts of Wenger’s modes of belonging as engagement, imagination, and alignment. These findings provide rich contextualized descriptions of experiences of participation, illustrating how designer collectives are conducive to both practice development and identity formation. Contributions to design practice and design education research are discussed concludingly, highlighting the role of designer collectives in fostering designers’ transformative learning beyond formal educational structures.

Forfatterbiografi

Nicky Nedergaard, Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design, Conservation

Associate professor (PhD)
Institute of Design and Visual Interaction

 

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A black-and-white line drawing of a group of designers posing for a group photo.

Nedlastinger

Publisert

2025-10-13

Hvordan referere

Nedergaard, N. (2025). The designer collective as a social system of professional learning and development. FormAkademisk, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.7577/formakademisk.6086

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