Cross-Pollination: An Interdisciplinary Redesign of the University Library

Amy Papaelias
Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
University of Bridgeport

How do 30 undergraduate design students, five professors and a handful of librarians, staff and administrators turn the University of Bridgeport’s outdated library into a 21st century information hub? In August 2007, junior and senior students from three design majors -- graphic, industrial and interior design -- were divided into four interdisciplinary teams and given one semester to collaboratively research, brainstorm, and ultimately, create a holistic vision for the future of the University's library.

The deliverables of the project included a public exhibition and multi-media presentation (including 2D renderings, video and scale models) detailing each group’s overall design concept.

By engaging in a collaborative design process emphasizing research, observation and multi-disciplinary ideation, students were able to experience design beyond the limitations of their specified major. Ultimately, the project facilitated the cross-pollination of budding designers: graphic design students interested in human factors; industrial design students thinking about spatial programming; interior design students concerned with typographic readability.

While collaborative design projects require a fair share of logistical back flips (class scheduling, team dynamics, faculty participation, student evaluation, departmental support), they expose students, faculty and administration to the intrinsic value of cooperative design learning.

This paper will examine the project's progress over the semester, focusing on the collaborative aspects of the research and development, as well as presenting some of the final results in an attempt to illustrate the importance of incorporating interdisciplinary design projects into an undergraduate curriculum.