A study into students' interests in industrial design engineering using a gender pattern analysis

This paper describes first year students’ interest and motivation towards the field of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) at the University of Twente during three years (2002-2004). Data was gathered systematically based on students’ interest to aspects of IDE: technology, styling, ergonomics and marketing. Students’ arguments were analysed with help of a theoretical framework, based on: 1. a basic phase model of product development (I/design-product-use/market) and 2. value patterns (virtuosity, economic, and user/need values). Results show varied and gender patterned interest in the mentioned four aspects of IDE. Significant gender differences were also found in type of arguments students used to motivate their rate of interest. Results of this paper can be used for a didactical educational review. They too may be relevant to enhance insight into the differentiating values of people in design practices