Design Thinking
What is Design Thinking?
Design Thinking is a process of working that inspires innovative solutions to complex problems. It uses various methods for investigation, analysis, planning and prototyping and emphasizes experimentation, collaboration, and iteration of ideas. When we design, we ask a lot of questions of the people we are designing for – what their lives are like and what’s important to them – so that our design work is human-centered, disciplined, and has a point of view.
What Design Thinking means to us?
Engaging students in Design Thinking means helping them to be mindful of the situations around them, to see that they have a role in creating them, and to decide to take action towards a more desirable future. Our Design Challenge model requires students and faculty to collaborate, reflect, and stretch our creative muscles in a more flexible environment. Design Challenges occur four times throughout the school year where students work in small groups with an advisor through a 2-3 day process to design and share their solutions.
Framing problem-solving activities as design challenges helps us to be critical and socially responsive about our world. We can go more in-depth on concepts taught in the classroom and set the stage for more rigorous study and critical thinking. Students have the opportunity to experience real world applications of what they study using qualitative research and action-oriented community projects.
The Design Challenges expect that students will make mistakes early and learn from them quickly. The dynamic team environment gives students permission to fail, get feedback, and iterate new ideas towards building a better solution. The design process is optimistic. No matter what constraints or hurdles exist around us, designing is an active and enjoyable process.
All photos courtesy of Sarah Gerber for twentytwentystudios
Read more about Design Thinking:
Design Thinking For Educators
IDEO
Our Design Thinking Partners:
d.school at Stanford University