Towards a New Studio Culture: Changing Minds, Transforming Education

This chapter makes a critical review of current viewpoints about transforming the design studio culture and discusses its critical role in architectural education under the influence of sociopsychological and techno-social changes. For understanding and improving the studio culture, a student-led effort has been made by the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). When examined from the formality and informality perspective, the connection between studio culture and informal learning becomes more evident. The chapter provides well-reasoned arguments about the potentials of innovative pedagogical strategies which are centered around informal and contextual learning through a new studio culture. As a strong argument supporting the informality dimension, Dutton emphasized the pedagogic value of studio culture by calling the consequences of this culture as the “hidden curriculum” of studio learning. For the improvement of studio culture in schools, AIAS reports propose sound suggestions and well-reasoned arguments.