Design Thinking

Aims and objectives

The unit aims to introduce students to concepts and methods associated with design thinking in a range of design and non-design contacts. This unit will explore key concepts associated with the practices of design thinking, such as ideation and prototyping, ill-structured problem solving, collaborative/participatory and human-centredness.
This introductory unit will complement the other issues addressed in the design management minor and concepts and practices in Business and Management. Students will have the opportunity to develop their design thinking competence through application to real world projects.

After successfully completing this unit, you should be able to:
1. Apply design thinking strategies and concepts to real-world problems via reports, mini-tests and presentations;
2. develop expertise in the framing and solution of real world problems using design thinking and show in reports, and presentations;
3. develop expertise in the range of tools and methods used to solve such problems and demonstrate in reports and presentations.
4. communicate design thinking applied to a specific context in the public setting of a presentation

Teaching methods

1 hours lecture and 2 hour tutorial per week
Lecture style presentations, project-based learning tutorials, reading and discussion, guest speakers, field visits to project sites
In a Semester, you should normally expect to spend, on average, twelve and a half hours of total time (formal contact time plus independent study time) a week on a 12.5 credit point unit of study.

Assessment

Content

• On-line assessments for minitests
• Use of software tools to model project and results
• Use of a range of mixed methods to explore and develop project
• Reading guides and discussion questions
• Use of standard tools, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, to develop project outcomes