Threshold concepts and the transport and product design curriculum: reports of research in progress

Abstract

In 2005, Coventry University was successful in bidding for Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) funding from HEFCE, which led to the creation of the Centre of Excellence for Product and Automotive Design (CEPAD). This article discusses pedagogic research carried out by CEPAD to date, with a particular focus on the journey towards identifying one particular threshold concept in student transport and product design education. It also explores preliminary thoughts on how this identification of hitherto tacit knowledge can feed into the design thinking and solutioning process. From this, the article offers some implications for the enhancement of teaching and learning within the design curriculum.