MG-GY 9013 – Design Thinking for Creative Problem Solving
Spring 2024
Course Description
In today’s world, developing new and innovative products and services is the "golden mantra" of every organization. Companies are therefore looking for creative, innovative and collaborative employees. This course will introduce participants to design thinking, a human-centered approach to innovation that allows us to create meaningful and sustainable solutions (products, services, technology, experience, etc.).
The course is based on two key assumptions:
1. There is no such thing as “creativity” but that there is a process that can be learned and practiced;
2. Innovation is a collaborative process that builds upon multiple perspectives and skills.
In its approach, this course is action-based and experiential. Through multiple activities, mini-challenges and a semester-long project, it invites participants to experience the whole design innovation process: from research insights and idea generation to idea development through prototyping, user testing and storytelling.
At the end of the course, students will have learnt the importance of human-centered design in creating values for the different stakeholders. They will also have experimented methods to (re-) frame. problems and turn them into opportunities, generate and prototype ideas while having the opportunity to develop key skills for their future career: collaboration skills, project experience and a portfolio of innovative techniques. Overall the course aims to provide participants with an environment to become creative and innovative thinkers and collaborators and develop their creative confidence.
Course Objectives
What will you understand?
• The nature of the creative process with a focus on different aspects of it: design research, ideation, and prototyping.
• How to support the creative process individually and in teams
• The importance of human-centered design in creating end user and business value
• How to create the environment that nurtures design thinking, and ultimately the generation of new ideas
• How the whole process from idea generation to idea development (e.g. refining, prototyping, testing, etc.), including idea communication.
What will you develop?
• Design research, ideation and prototyping:
o Develop your design research skills
o Learn how to move from research insights to generate ideas, prototype them and turn problems into opportunities
• Explore creative problem-solving techniques and their application within a team
• Communication skills (within your team but also with clients or potential funders)
• Design thinking skills that will allow you to come up with new ideas and turn problems into opportunity.
• How to think critically about end-users as well as your audience
In sum, you will learn:
Different ways to approach problems and methods to generate and explore ideas while having the opportunity to develop key skills for today's organizations when they are looking at hiring people: collaboration skills, project experience and a portfolio of innovative techniques.
Course structure
What makes this course unusual is its pedagogical approach. I believe that, in some fundamental sense, creativity cannot be taught. Indeed, as mentioned above, if creativity exists, it is not a grandiose thing, but it’s a mundane activity that results from a different way of looking at things around us. This different way of looking at things emerges from the context, the multiplicity of perspectives and the interactions with people. This approach is reflected in the course structure.
The class will meet on a weekly basis and it will include a mix of class discussions, activities and studio work. You need to plan at least one-hour weekly meeting with your team to coordinate on the different project assignments. Beyond the readings (videos, podcasts, etc.) for the class, you will also have to do some work individually (or in small groups) for your team project (e.g. do research, get user feedback).
The course is organized around 3 main components:
1. In-class workshops: discussions of case studies and readings; guest speakers; hands-on activities and mini-challenges to explore specific techniques
2. Online reflections: Discussions on the course blog, including 4 “Reflections” to post and commenting activities (See following page for more information).
3. Semester group project:
This is the opportunity to experiment with all the tools and methods explored in class while honing your collaborative skills. This is an important component of the course and you need to plan a weekly meeting with your team. The first part of the team project will require individual research.
We will use Miro, an online collaborative platform. for some of the in-class activities. Please make sure to all bring a laptop. You will receive an invitation to Miro.
Readings We won’t use a textbook. There are articles, cases and videos assigned for each session. Please check under each session.
Most articles are accessible on NYU Library. If they are not accessible on NYU library, they are posted in the Readings Folder on Google Drive.
However, for the first two classes a few readings have to be purchased. See information below.
You can purchase readings for session 1 using this Course link:
https://hbsp.harvard.edu/import/1092285
You need to register on the site hbsp.harvard.edu to create a user name if you do not already have one.
• The Designing Services at Engine Case A (420-020 -1) can be purchased here
Evaluation and Grading Attendance
• Attendance is mandatory during all classes and studio work.
• Unexcused absences will affect your grade. One absence is allowed; after that, your final, overall, numerical grade will drop by 5 percent (1/2 a grade point (e.g. A to an A-)) for each additional absence.
• Be on Time. Tardiness will affect your grade.
• Contact the professor IN ADVANCE if you will not be in class.
Your final grade will be based on a synthesis of quantitative & qualitative rubrics:
Grading Overview
|
Description |
Relative Weighting |
1 |
Participation in Class |
20% |
3 |
Individual research participation (othe blog) |
10% |
4 |
Reflections (on the blog) |
25% |
5 |
Team Project |
35% |
6 |
Peer Review |
10% |
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