Studio life: The studio as a non-hierarchical learning space  

The studio is an established feature in the pedagogy of the creative disciplines, functioning as a simulacrum of the studios in the disciplines’ professional contexts by attempting to emulate their setting and organisation. As a learning space, the studio is distinctly adaptive and non-hierarchical—it promotes an informal atmosphere, in which new ideas and different ways of knowing are encouraged, and, by providing the framework for after-hours discussions and chance encounters, it fosters spontaneous creativity and debate that are independent of structured classes and other events. Nevertheless, the success of the studio requires reflective and thoughtful practice to safeguard its equity and viability as a creative space.

In this panel talk, we will discuss the opportunities and challenges relevant to studio practice and propose its value for teaching and learning in other disciplines. Through examples and anecdotes, we will explore the effects—of shared ownership, neighbourliness, and embodiment—on teaching, professionalism, and community in the pedagogical environment. In addition, we will bring examples from a variety of disciplines and hope to inspire colleagues to reconsider approaches to the lab, the classroom, and the office.