Bridging the Skills Gap: The Design Education Landscape with AI and Experiential Learning

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT into educational settings has irreversibly transformed teaching and learning paradigms. Recognizing that conventional instructional methods may fall short in equipping students with essential skills, this paper advocates for a shift towards experiential learning through service-learning (SL) and problem-based learning (PBL) in design education. These pedagogies, which promote intellectual growth and hands-on experience, are critical for students' career readiness and provide valuable real-world client engagement. Despite enthusiasm, incorporating SL and PBL faces significant hurdles, including a lack of educator training, resources, and structural support, coupled with the complexities of establishing partnerships, particularly affecting small businesses and disenfranchised entities. This research delves into the experiential learning landscape, examining successes and identifying skills gaps impacting educators and students. The findings, based on various design schools within a single university, assess challenges of integrating SL and PBL into design curricula and propose solutions to mitigate these barriers. Aiming to forge a stronger bridge between research, business, and academia, this paper underscores the necessity of preparing students for the 21st century's demands. Through this exploration, it contributes to the discourse on experiential learning within design education, enhancing the overall quality and relevance of student learning experiences.