Project 2 - Team DESIGN THINKING Investigations

Design is a joyous, creative act. It concerns itself with problem solving and decision making. It provides the designer with enormous gratification to watch a concept move from the first explorative lines on a sheet of paper through different stages of development.

-Victor Papanek

Respond to a team-discovered opportunity for a design thinking investigation. The exploration will be conducted in groups of 4-5 students. Teams will identify a design opportunity, conduct design thinking inquiry (research), ideate, prototype, engage user interaction and feedback, test and experiment, iterate, and develop a final proposal. 

Student teams will be determined by the instructor and based on interest, discipline diversity, and rank. 

Student teams will work with the instructor to determine the best design inquiry procedures, activities, and process for their unique design investigation. 

Design projects must meet the following criteria:

  • User group is accessible and on campus  
  • Design can be prototyped
  • You can identify and access experts to consult
  •  Multiple iterations can take place 

Part 1. Creating Inquiry Space

For Tuesday, February 17th. 

Read- Chapter One from Communicating the New, read with the intent to engaging processes of communication outlined in the chapter post Inquiry Space Creation.  

Create a Hunt Statement

Define the what + why “hunt statement” for your design thinking opportunity. One long sentence of the what you will be doing and why your are doing it. The statement should broad in what,  specific with why. Emphasize human experience and refrain for a know solution. 

Reference: 101 Design Methods: Method 1.14 Intent Statement and Communicating the New>Chapter 1>Lists and Open-ended Writing>Use Writing to Prototype

Example: "Explore the informational needs of education stakeholders to improve the effectiveness of online learning tools." 

Hunt statement TEST: If you know the answer to the problem from the “hunt statement” then you are NOT successful. A successful hunt statement will have multiple outcomes and require design thinking processes for a solution. 

 

        Remember the statement must be:

  • broad + specific
  •  human experience focus 
  •  no obvious solutions     

   If you get the hunt statement right, the project will fall into place. Spend the team time to remind and agree on a single hunt statement. 

Create an inquiry plan for your hunt statement based on methods found in the 101 Design Methods and Innovating for People deck of cards. 

- Identify a minimum of three inquiry methods that will allow you to understand your broad design idea with more insight. (no survey methods)

- Outline the procedures in a field handbook format for each inquiry method. 

 

- In an introductory paragraph identify the why - what - of your broad, but specific, design         thinking activity. 

    

- List the three or more inquiry methods for discovering your design opportunities. 

 

- In a paragraph or two provide the logic and reasoning for selecting the inquiry methods. 

Outline 

 

- Outline a the inquiry procedure for each inquiry method customized for your             investigation. 

 

        - Where are the inquiries taking place

        -Who will be involved in the inquiry (team members and users)

        -How many people will you interact with to create validity and reliability

        -When will you conduct the inquiry (time, day, permission to conduct the inquiry) 

        -Inquiry Interaction Procedures and Script (may include the following per method) 

            - step by step procedures

            - how will you remain objective

            - sample questions

            - script for interacting with users

            - introduction script, thank you script        

 

 

Print copies for all team members and the instructor for Tuesday, February 17th at the beginning of class.