To use or not to use: Analysis of ICT in the ideation process of graphic design in the senior high schools.

This paper is an outcome of a survey that sought to analyse the use of ICT in idea development in the design process with respect to graphic design education in the second cycle institution. The focus was to examine the effect of the introduction of ICT into the curriculum of graphic design education in the Senior High Schools (SHS) on idea development. Quantitatively, data was gathered from two hundred and twenty students from four different SHS in Kumasi, where graphic design is pursued as an elective course in visual art. There was evidence to suggest that even though ICT as a tool is studied in schools, design students were not officially allowed to either assess the internet or use the computer for idea development. However, there were evidence to suggest that students mostly assess the internet and use the computer for their assignments in their respective homes. The results also affirmed that ICT helped in their idea development even though per the pedagogy, teachers do not teach the students. The study however recommends that curriculum developers take another look at the curriculum in shaping the thoughts of these students since the early and proper use of ICT by design students will help in the thinking on the use of technology in the higher education institutions. Moreover, it will also help in the realization of their full potential of technology in idea development in the design process, especially in developing countries.