Make sense of design research data, learn to frame a problem from a user's perspective, and generate lots of new ideas: This course will introduce you to the basics of design synthesis and brainstorming techniques.
This course introduces you to helpful skills for advancing from user research to idea generation. We take a task-based approach to build your skills: You will interpret research findings, frame user-centered problem statements, and facilitate creative brainstorming sessions. This MOOC builds on the 2017 “Inspirations for Design” course, but you may also run through it as a stand-alone MOOC. You can take part in this course individually.
Learning Objectives
- sort data and extract needs from user research
- frame a problem from a user's perspective
- apply various brainstorming techniques and principles
- select and conceptualize ideas
- evaluate the quality of your peers' work and provide constructive feedback
Course Structure
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION / Week 1 (19.9. – 26.9.2018)
During the welcome week, you will have the chance to introduce yourself and to discover the learning environment with a warm-up exercise. Time commitment: 1h – 1:30h
DEFINE / Week 2 (27.9. – 3.10.2018)
In this week, we focus on the skill of framing a problem from the user perspective. You will learn about the basic steps of identifying "golden nuggets" and phrasing a "How might we" question.
Time commitment: 2,5h – 3,5h
IDEATE / Week 3 (4.10. – 11.10.2018)
In this week, we focus on the skill of facilitating a brainstorming session: You will learn about brainstorming techniques and idea selection techniques, and how to lead your own idea generation group.
Time commitment: 3,5 - 5h
WRAP UP / Week 4 (and beyond) (12.10. – 24.10.2018) During the wrap-up week, we will provide a summary of what you have learned. We will discuss assignment results and describe the next steps in a design thinking project.
Time commitment: 0:30h – 1h
