Training in Graphic Design and Social Sustainability: A SEM-PLS Study on Professional Influence on Students

Abstract

Both the profession and education of graphic design have embraced the sustainability trend. However, in emerging contexts like Mexico, the focus on environmental issues often overshadows the social dimension of sustainability. This study, unique in its focus, examines, from the students’ perception, the influence of social sustainability (SS) practices in design professionals on the SS orientation of graphic design students. Using a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (SEM-PLS) for non-parametric statistical analysis, data from n 136 university students were collected. The results reveal a positive influence of SS professional practices on student orientation toward general sustainability and SS. Notably, this study identified a significant indirect relationship, underscoring the importance of integrating a socially sustainable perspective into academic training. This finding supports the notion that students, when exposed to socially responsible practices in their professional environment, cultivate a culture of sustainability that encompasses the social and community aspects of the discipline.