Leveraging Digital Fieldwork Tools in design studios: towards affordable and sustainable education

The rapid shift toward digital and learner-centred pedagogies has transformed how design education connects students with real-world contexts. This study explores the integration of Digital Fieldwork Tools (DFT) in the design studio as an innovative teaching strategy to strengthen teaching excellence and learner-driven engagement. Grounded in the principles of experiential and technology-enhanced learning, the study aims to evaluate DFT’s contribution to affordable, sustainable, and inclusive educational practices. A quantitative approach was employed, involving all final-year planning students undertaking the design studio project during the current semester. The study investigates students’ patterns of DFT utilisation, perceived learning effectiveness, and the pedagogical challenges encountered throughout the process. Preliminary findings reveal that DFT significantly enhances students’ ability to collect, analyse, and interpret site data, while fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and digital literacy. However, issues such as uneven digital competence and infrastructure limitations continue to affect optimal adoption. The study concludes that integrating DFT into studio-based teaching not only enhances students’ engagement and autonomy but also promotes affordable and sustainable approaches to higher education. These findings provide valuable insights for educators seeking to innovate teaching methods and align classroom experiences with the demands of contemporary digital learning environments.