USING A DIGITAL STUDIO AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ENGAGING COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDENTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR A POST-COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN ERA.
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| Title: | USING A DIGITAL STUDIO AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ENGAGING COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDENTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR A POST-COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN ERA. |
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| Authors: | Ojo, O. A.1, Makura, A. H.2 |
| Source: | South African Journal of Higher Education. Mar2026, Vol. 40 Issue 1, p269-295. 27p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Design students, *Digital learning, Graphic design, Digital technology |
| Reviews & Products: | Adobe Photoshop (Computer software) |
| Abstract: | This article describes the intervention that facilitated students completing their curriculum under strict and partially strict lockdown rules without access to a traditional "wet" studio and physical laboratory space. The primary researcher introduced the students to a "digital mock-up-making" process in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop programs. The e-learning technique allowed 29 second-year students at a university of technology to create their 2D design in Adobe Illustrator and 3D design in Photoshop. This process replaced a traditional physical cut-and-paste process within the "wet" and "dry" laboratory and studio spaces. The researchers followed a qualitative ethnography research design to determine the success of the "digital mock-up making" process as an alternative to physical studio and laboratory work. This research method requires deep reflection and self-assessment about "what" and "how" the learning occurred. The harvested qualitative reflective data were analysed using a content analysis approach. The findings showed that students gained new digital-based skills and overcame their concerns about not learning during the lockdown period and the likelihood of losing an entire academic year. Furthermore, online-based assessment of the design works orchestrated a paperless advantage compared to the physical studio process. However, the connection with conventional art materials and some technical knowledge dwindled during the period. This article concludes that lack of physical tools and access to physical studios were not barriers to students' accomplishments. This study recommends that digital mock-up making remain part of the facilitation methods of studio-based modules because it fosters student-centred learning and enables learning to continue during a period of disruption. Digital mock-up making can mitigate disruptions caused by natural disasters and prolonged student impasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of South African Journal of Higher Education is the property of Sabinet Online Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 192831667 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: USING A DIGITAL STUDIO AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ENGAGING COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDENTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR A POST-COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN ERA. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ojo%2C+O%2E+A%2E%22">Ojo, O. A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Makura%2C+A%2E+H%2E%22">Makura, A. H.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22South+African+Journal+of+Higher+Education%22">South African Journal of Higher Education</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 40 Issue 1, p269-295. 27p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Design+students%22">Design students</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Digital+learning%22">Digital learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graphic+design%22">Graphic design</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Digital+technology%22">Digital technology</searchLink> – Name: SubjectProduct Label: Reviews & Products Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="PS" term="%22Adobe+Photoshop+%28Computer+software%29%22">Adobe Photoshop (Computer software)</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This article describes the intervention that facilitated students completing their curriculum under strict and partially strict lockdown rules without access to a traditional "wet" studio and physical laboratory space. The primary researcher introduced the students to a "digital mock-up-making" process in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop programs. The e-learning technique allowed 29 second-year students at a university of technology to create their 2D design in Adobe Illustrator and 3D design in Photoshop. This process replaced a traditional physical cut-and-paste process within the "wet" and "dry" laboratory and studio spaces. The researchers followed a qualitative ethnography research design to determine the success of the "digital mock-up making" process as an alternative to physical studio and laboratory work. This research method requires deep reflection and self-assessment about "what" and "how" the learning occurred. The harvested qualitative reflective data were analysed using a content analysis approach. The findings showed that students gained new digital-based skills and overcame their concerns about not learning during the lockdown period and the likelihood of losing an entire academic year. Furthermore, online-based assessment of the design works orchestrated a paperless advantage compared to the physical studio process. However, the connection with conventional art materials and some technical knowledge dwindled during the period. This article concludes that lack of physical tools and access to physical studios were not barriers to students' accomplishments. This study recommends that digital mock-up making remain part of the facilitation methods of studio-based modules because it fosters student-centred learning and enables learning to continue during a period of disruption. Digital mock-up making can mitigate disruptions caused by natural disasters and prolonged student impasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of South African Journal of Higher Education is the property of Sabinet Online Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.20853/40-1-6385 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 27 StartPage: 269 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Design students Type: general – SubjectFull: Digital learning Type: general – SubjectFull: Graphic design Type: general – SubjectFull: Digital technology Type: general – SubjectFull: Adobe Photoshop (Computer software) Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: USING A DIGITAL STUDIO AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ENGAGING COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDENTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR A POST-COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN ERA. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ojo, O. A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Makura, A. H. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: Mar2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 10113487 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 40 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: South African Journal of Higher Education Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
