A History of Design Theory in Art Education

by Nanyoung Kim


Since Discipline-Based Art Education (DBAE) began to advocate the teaching of art based on art subjects and knowledge rather than creative selfexpression, the elements and principles of design have taken a firm place in various art curricula, textbooks, and national and state Visual Arts Standards. Elements and principles were around before DBAE, but their ubiquitous and eminent presence in the elementary grades could not have been imagined two or three decades ago. Nevertheless, young art teachers who are trained under the current standards will rarely question their legitimacy in the curriculum or the pedagogy for teaching them as presented in DBAE-oriented textbooks.