Design Documentation in Education:

This paper examines how design documentation in higher education can function as a form of cultural preservation within the Gulf region, using the American University of Kuwait (AUK) as a case study. Through a qualitative analysis of seven student-led capstone projects, the research explores how des...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Merheb, Rita (author)
Published: 2025
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11675/14426
https:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1870679722528079872
author Merheb, Rita
author_facet Merheb, Rita
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Merheb, Rita
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-12-01
2026-06-03T09:35:39Z
2026-06-03T09:35:39Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11675/14426
https:
sites.google.com/view/ritamerheb/abstract
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Art and Graphic Design
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Design Documentation in Education:
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Conference Paper
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
description This paper examines how design documentation in higher education can function as a form of cultural preservation within the Gulf region, using the American University of Kuwait (AUK) as a case study. Through a qualitative analysis of seven student-led capstone projects, the research explores how design students act as cultural documentarians, transforming local traditions, oral histories, and vernacular aesthetics into designed artifacts that preserve regional visual culture. Drawing on frameworks from design pedagogy, cultural heritage studies, and practice-based research, the study positions design documentation as both a learning process and a mode of cultural stewardship. Findings reveal that when documentation practices are embedded into the design curriculum, students gain critical research and storytelling skills while contributing to community-driven archives of intangible and tangible heritage. The paper concludes that design education can serve as a living archive, bridging traditional narratives with contemporary design practice, and argues for integrating documentation as a sustained pedagogical strategy in art and design programs across the region.
id AUKR_bbacedc63bfb6cf873d3621ff268f2ff
identifier_str_mv sites.google.com/view/ritamerheb/abstract
network_acronym_str AUKR
network_name_str AU Kuwait Rep
oai_identifier_str oai:dspace.auk.edu.kw:11675/14426
publishDate 2025
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository_id_str
spelling Design Documentation in Education:Merheb, RitaThis paper examines how design documentation in higher education can function as a form of cultural preservation within the Gulf region, using the American University of Kuwait (AUK) as a case study. Through a qualitative analysis of seven student-led capstone projects, the research explores how design students act as cultural documentarians, transforming local traditions, oral histories, and vernacular aesthetics into designed artifacts that preserve regional visual culture. Drawing on frameworks from design pedagogy, cultural heritage studies, and practice-based research, the study positions design documentation as both a learning process and a mode of cultural stewardship. Findings reveal that when documentation practices are embedded into the design curriculum, students gain critical research and storytelling skills while contributing to community-driven archives of intangible and tangible heritage. The paper concludes that design education can serve as a living archive, bridging traditional narratives with contemporary design practice, and argues for integrating documentation as a sustained pedagogical strategy in art and design programs across the region.2026-06-03T09:35:39Z2026-06-03T09:35:39Z2025-12-01Conference Paperinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://hdl.handle.net/11675/14426https:sites.google.com/view/ritamerheb/abstractArt and Graphic Designoai:dspace.auk.edu.kw:11675/144262026-06-11T12:15:14Z
spellingShingle Design Documentation in Education:
Merheb, Rita
status_str publishedVersion
title Design Documentation in Education:
title_full Design Documentation in Education:
title_fullStr Design Documentation in Education:
title_full_unstemmed Design Documentation in Education:
title_short Design Documentation in Education:
title_sort Design Documentation in Education:
url http://hdl.handle.net/11675/14426
https: