Congratulations to Professors Mejia-Puig, Martinez-Munoz, Araujo-Mejia, and Andres Quintero on their recent publication!
Professor Luis Mejia-Puig of the University of Florida’s Department of Interior Design along with his Colombian partners, Professor Edgar Martinez-Munoz (Universidad Autonoma de Occidente) and Professor Carlos Araujo-Mejia (Universidad Icesi) explored ways in which design studio practice promotes multicultural awareness through hands-on, interactive learning. Using a virtual exchange project grounded in the COIL framework, 111 design students from Colombia and the U.S. collaborated across disciplines to create an experiential dining environment. Structured interactions among students, instructors, and content supported interdisciplinary teamwork and cultural exchange.
Survey results showed overall growth in cultural awareness, despite some resistance to cross-cultural socialization, highlighting the design studio’s effectiveness in developing global collaboration skills and preparing students for international professional practice.