Abstract
This study investigates processes of career exploration and vocational identity development for Design students. Establishing a professional identity is a central aspect for career construction and definition of academic, personal, and professional goals – and an essential process to promote success and accomplishment as students prepare to move from school to work.We surveyed 109 students enrolled in undergraduate design majors and minors and graduate design programs at a North-American university on career decision motivation and vocational identity status including measures of career exploration (in-breadth and in-depth), career commitment and career flexibility. Findings follow a developmental perspective suggesting that age and seniority relate to higher levels of commitment and in-depth exploration and lower levels of in-breadth exploration. Career flexibility, the ongoing consideration of alternatives and openness to change career choice as a consequence of learning and experience, emerges as a key aspect of career development in a rapidly changing environment.
Keywords
career exploration; vocational identity; design students; design education
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.1243
Citation
Mouchrek, N. (2024) Flexibility is key: career exploration and vocational identity status among Design students, in Gray, C., Ciliotta Chehade, E., Hekkert, P., Forlano, L., Ciuccarelli, P., Lloyd, P. (eds.), DRS2024: Boston, 23–28 June, Boston, USA. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.1243
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Flexibility is key: career exploration and vocational identity status among Design students
This study investigates processes of career exploration and vocational identity development for Design students. Establishing a professional identity is a central aspect for career construction and definition of academic, personal, and professional goals – and an essential process to promote success and accomplishment as students prepare to move from school to work.We surveyed 109 students enrolled in undergraduate design majors and minors and graduate design programs at a North-American university on career decision motivation and vocational identity status including measures of career exploration (in-breadth and in-depth), career commitment and career flexibility. Findings follow a developmental perspective suggesting that age and seniority relate to higher levels of commitment and in-depth exploration and lower levels of in-breadth exploration. Career flexibility, the ongoing consideration of alternatives and openness to change career choice as a consequence of learning and experience, emerges as a key aspect of career development in a rapidly changing environment.