Deb Polson: designs on a new reality

Associate Professor Deb Polson is the head of the new Design School that will welcome its first students in Semester One, 2020.

She has her work cut out – a UN World Economic Forum in 2016 predicted 65 percent of children in school today will end up with jobs that don't exist yet. But design is one field that's sure to be prominent.

"Students have no problem with the idea of the future designer," says Deb. "It's often parents and teachers who struggle a bit. We can't predict exactly what those jobs will be. But the field of design is totally made for that reality – you're learning how to adapt and respond to constantly changing environments, technologies and human behaviour."

Design is naturally collaborative and Deb says that's why she came to Auckland after 25 years working in universities in Australia and China. There are 11 conjoint study options for the design student, so the programme includes collaborations with engineering, health science, law, global studies and arts.

"You can't design anything in this world on your own any more. Design involves teaming up with people and organisations that challenge and complement design practices."We're not really interested in doing the traditional thing. It's about 'what is the ideal graduate in the world and how do we all contribute to that?'

Deb likes to use game technologies to "smuggle in science through play" and that includes augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). In 2004, she worked with award winning AR expert, Professor Mark Billinghurst, now at ABI, to create her first mixed-reality game for families to engage with science museums and art galleries in Melbourne.

She says the Design programme will use UN's Sustainable Development Goals as a guide. "It's an important framework to adopt as it ties us to a global initiative. As such, it's a massive deal that we're No.1 in the inaugural University Impact Rankings by Times Higher Education."