Applied design in a cross cultural context: Designing for handicrafts in Jamaican development. (Volumes I and II)

The purpose of this research is to determine an appropriate method of teaching applied design in the context of economic development in Jamaica. A case is made for the place of crafts in the development plans of a country with massive unemployment, and for the need to develop design process skills in order to increase the quality and diversity of craft products, where crafts are being developed for income generation. The literature search includes material from the fields of economic development, educational methods and theory, tourism and cultural change, marketing, design theory, and design education; all in the context of Jamaican handicrafts and development.; The research was composed of two parts. The first phase was a survey of craft materials and techniques found in Jamaica. In view of the shortage of foreign exchange, crafts development and design education must rely on locally available raw materials, or the use of byproducts of existing industries. The second phase was the development of a course. This course was taught first in 1985 as a three day workshop to 95 Community Development workers in 7 workshops, which included virtually all such workers employed by the Social Development Commission of Jamaica. This workshop was expanded into a 48 hour course and taught as part of a baccalaureate degree program in Home Economics Education at the College of Arts, Science, and Technology, Kingston, Jamaica, in 1986 and 1987. Based on evaluations and pre- and post-test results, the course was refined to fit the specific needs of the Jamaican situation. The full course outline is included in the appendix. Other appendices list indigenous craft materials, including straws, woods, seeds, and natural dye plants. It was concluded that design theory can be effectively taught in this context provided that theory is thoroughly grounded in practical applications relevant to the available materials and techniques.