ABSTRACT
Service-learning design studios can offer powerful and transformative experiences for students and community stakeholders alike. Students learn from their interactions with community stakeholders, who in turn benefit from the work that students produce as well as the experience that they share. The studios, at best, immerse students in real-life settings and enable them to build relationships with users and stakeholders. Through such relationships and experiences, students can gain a more grounded understanding of the discipline and profession in the context of neighborhoods and communities. They may also obtain a better appreciation of both the limits and relevance of their skills and the complexity of community engagement. For the communities, students and faculty from the universities can bring fresh energy to addressing long-standing issues and challenges. At the same time, the studios can also provide a relatively “safe” space to explore potential solutions as well as bringing stakeholders to the table. The collaborative process can potentially yield exciting and rewarding results.
