Digital feedback assemblages: Portfolio feedback in the industrial design studio

Traditionally in industrial design studios, the review and assessment of student learning occurs within the context of verbal critiques and a paper-based portfolio. Students are constantly required to assimilate various points of view within the critiques and display their understanding in the further development of their design portfolio. A number of weaknesses are associated with this process, including students' ability to remember what occurred during the critique and then to apply it in practice. To respond to these issues, as well as to give more effective feedback, students were asked to create and submit a digital portfolio of their work for feedback and assessment. This digital portfolio was then reviewed and an assemblage of textual, visual and audio feedback was returned to the student for reflection and integration into their subsequent design work. While the assemblage of textual, visual and audio feedback had some demands, overall the advantages far outweighed these. It was found to support student learning and was well received by students. For the lecturer, using this method contributed to enhancing practice in the design studio