The ‘Kick-off project’: an engaging entry to a transdisciplinary master education

For students starting at a master program where transdisciplinary processes are an integrated part of the curriculum, it can be a difficult adaption when they have to mix methods and theories across boundaries. The overall questions dealt with in this paper are how to introduce students to understand and use the transdisciplinary approach through a problem based design project, and how to give the students a meaningful and engaging introduction to their future study. The theory behind the pedagogical approach Problem Based Learning (PBL) is reflected in a “Kick-off Project” from a new transdisciplinary master programme in Lighting Design. During the project the transdisciplinary elements of creating meaning and value through lighting design, the important elements of PBL and the process of applying this through a playful process model developing and realizing a 1:1 lighting design project in a specific context will be introduced. The results show that it is possible for students to make a meaningful design project showing insight in and understanding of a transdisciplinary education, combining PBL approach and a design model.