The Professional Education Ecosystem of Industrial Design at Georgia Institute of Technology Based on SECI Model

Abstract

The changes in international competitive environment and the adjustment of national industrial development strategy have put forward new requirements for the education of industrial design. Industrial design is the research on design knowledge. It includes systematic explicit knowledge and empirical tacit knowledge. The education of design is about the transfer and accumulation of this specialized knowledge. By using SECI model of knowledge transformation and creation proposed by Ikujiro Nonaka and others, this article analyzes four processes of knowledge transformation, the platform of knowledge transformation (“Ba”) and knowledge assets. It studies the educational mode of the School of Industrial Design at Georgia Institute of Technology. From basic professional education, to department-level studio courses and university-level laboratory research, to the completion of industrial design education, professional knowledge is built up through the whole process, thus a virtuous cycle of professional education ecosystem is established. It is hoped this will bring useful experience to the education of industrial design in China.