Design in Colombia has developed through three phases: the gestation period from the 1950s to 1978, the establishment of the discipline and profession from 1978 to 1993, and integration into the productive sector and increased social visibility from 1993 to the present. The Colombian designer is able to produce and communicate ideas through form, engage in design projects, use production processes, research contexts, and work in interdisciplinary groups. However, design education faces gaps at the undergraduate level, design practice lacks differentiation from other fields, there is no regulation of design practice, and the scope of design practice is not clearly defined. Actions proposed include improving quality in design education, promoting design research and teaching through law, and developing design in specific industries.

1. DESIGN IN
COLOMBIA
History
AcademyWork
environment
Design in Colombia

2. Gestation and idea conception
(50's until 1978)
Discipline construction and
profession institutionalization
(from 1978 to 1993)
Insertion in productive sector and
social visibility
(1993 to present)
HISTORY
Design in Colombia

3. Design in Colombia
ACADEMY
The Colombian designer is able to:
•Produce and communicate ideas
through the language of form.
•Engage design projects.
•Appropriate and use productive
processes.
•Research, analyze and comprehend a
specific context.
•Work in interdisciplinary groups.
COLOMBIAN DESIGNER
PROFILE

4. Design in Colombia
ACADEMY
•Usability
•Sustainability.
•Crafts
•User centered design
•Innovation
•Marketing
•Management
Areas of Interests
•Technology
•Materials y manufacture
•Computer aided Design
•Project management.
•Ergonomics
•Perception
•Art History

6. Issues that Design faces as a profession
DESIGN IN
COLOMBIA
History
AcademyWork
environment
Gaps in education
undergraduate
programs
Design practice
doesn´t enjoy a high
diferentiation against
other practice fields
There´s no
regulation for
design practice
Design practice
field is not clearly
specified

7. Actions
DESIGN IN
COLOMBIA
Gaps in
education
undergraduate
programs
Low
differentiation
against other
practice fields
Design practice
field is not
clearly
specified
No regulation
for design practice
Insertion of quality politics for
education in design
undergraduate programs
Law 57 of 1994 Promotion of research of the
design discipline and its teaching
Tourism and health
products development
Potenciate Visual Design
Potenciate design in clothing
and textile areas