DNMADE Social Innovation: a pedagogical project grounded in university research

In 2025–2026, students in the DNMADE Social Innovation program at Assomption Bondy are taking part in an experimental pedagogical project that brings together Design, Educational Psychology, and academic research. Led by Blanche Laviale, in partnership with researcher Felipe Sánchez (Universidad Católica del Maule, Chile), the initiative introduces students to scientific research methods while strengthening their design practice.

Starting from a simple observation — that learning and motivation are influenced by work and living environments — students observe, analyze, and transform their everyday spaces.

The project is organized collaboratively across year groups:
▪ first-year students identify needs as users
▪ third-year students develop design proposals
▪ second-year students build prototypes

The resulting interventions concretely improve workspaces and foster cooperation, autonomy, and engagement.

Through this experience, students develop a designer-researcher mindset, learning to base their decisions on observation, analysis, and experimentation, while situating Design within a broader social and educational perspective.