Design Thinking is an open-ended, open-minded, and iterative approach to finding solutions for difficult business problems. It uses technology and a designer’s toolkit, while focusing on human needs. You don’t need to be a designer to become a design thinker. This course is your opportunity to learn to apply creative and collaborative tools, such as brainstorming and prototypes, to real-life challenges.
As we discuss design thinking case studies at many Fortune 500 companies, you will be first introduced (in the form of interactive lectures) then practice (through hands-on workshops) the design thinking process. Designs go through many iterations and you will also refine your project multiple times.
By staying human-centered, you too can learn to communicate with creative confidence knowing that while your solution may not be perfect, it optimally meets the needs of the people you are designing for.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Develop a collaborative design thinking mindset that enables them to explore and communicate complex problems they face at the workplace;
- Critically evaluate a solution by reframing the problem, changing perspectives, or redefining the constraints by continuously iterating “How Might We?” questions;
- Integrate storytelling into a human-centered approach to problem-solving by engaging the audience and considering time in the solution narrative;
- Construct key user-centered design briefs, statements, and framework documents that reflect empathy with the user needs or a challenge; and
- Design and test simple prototypes that reflect the user’s needs and invite further iterations.