The concept of insight in studio education: A field study aimed at examining the experiences of undergraduate industrial design students in this area

The scope of design today has expanded beyond the appearance or functionality of products to include all contexts of human interaction. To develop innovative solutions and enhance competitiveness, companies are integrating user-centered thinking into their visions. This approach enables the generation of user insights that uncover the underlying reasons behind user behaviors and preferences. Utilizing these insights to create value has also expanded the roles of designers. In industrial design education, the curriculum is already user-centered. However, students often struggle to fully understand this approach in their early years or fail to acquire and apply user insights effectively in product development processes. Thus, it is essential to equip industrial design students with the skills to gather and use user insights in their projects. Alongside theoretical knowledge, courses should include practical applications to ensure students gain proficiency in this area. To address this need, research was conducted with third- and fourth-year students from the Industrial Design Department at Eskişehir Technical University. The study involved surveys, semi-structured interviews, and workshops focused on methods for obtaining and using user insights. These activities were carried out with students enrolled in Product Design IV and Product Design VI courses. The data collected from students was analyzed, and the findings were evaluated to provide insights into how user-centered design practices can be effectively taught and implemented.