How to visualize design? Pupils’ experiences of designing in a textile craft project

In order to ideate a novel craft product and be able to discuss it with a teacher, a pupil must use some kind of elucidation technique to demonstrate his or her idea. Commonly, a piece of white paper and a pencil are used for this purpose, which often results in elucidating their idea with an illustration the size of a postage stamp. However, there are other possibilities for the visualization of a design idea. This article discusses different approaches to visualization and elucidation. The research aim was to investigate what effect the designing process, in particular the techniques for elucidating an idea, had on the final product, and on the pupils’ conception of the process. Data were collected from three design cases in textile craft education. The results indicated that, through art education, the pupils discovered visualization and elucidation techniques that were previously unknown to them and that they would not have thought of themselves. When applying the new techniques, the pupils concentrated more on the idea and the feeling of the illustration than on the details. The study shows that rough techniques seem to offer pupils a stronger visualization method and lower their threshold for creating. The outcomes may be useful for teachers when planning craft projects that include a complete craft process that promotes pupils’ own creativity and ideas. Through a well-planned craft project, it is possible to combine knowledge of different school subjects and promote skills that are essential in overall learning and education.