Design for youth development and engagement in sustainability
The paper presents an interdisciplinary study aiming to investigate the potential of Design to support youth development and promote the culture of sustainability in the transition to adulthood. Increasingly considered as an integrative discipline, a strategic approach, and a catalyst for change, Design offers a range of potentialities and interfaces for innovative action in diverse areas, including youth development. The present study investigates how the integration of Design cognition and design-based collaborative practices into learning experiences in Higher Education can promote youth empowerment and engagement in sustainability. Preliminary results show that Design is a promising methodology for intervention: as a way of knowing and inquiring and as engaging activities.