Design Thinking (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

The theoretical basis of design thinking
- Introductions
- Reading and reflecting on written material (reading club)
Application to practice
- Exercises
- Connecting to service design projects, future design

Objective

After the course student knows different definitions of design thinking and is able to apply design thinking viewpoint and some of the methods in different challenges and in multidisciplinary teams and different fields.

Content

Design thinking as a way of observing, seeing, and sensing the world.
Design thinking as methods of making sense of the complexity.

Design Thinking 5 ECTS course fits for anyone, who wishes to learn holistic human and experimental approach to be exploited in different challenges in different professional fields.

The course is structured in Introduction and in four main themes (A4DT - Approach Four Design Thinking):
1. Holistic View
2. Human View
3. Experimenting / prototyping
4. Concept Design

Each theme includes group tasks that are built on previous tasks.

Materials

Common material
- Brown, T. 2019. Change by design: how design thinking transforms organizations and inspires innovation.
- Design Thinking – engage, ideate, innovate (CalSoft_DT_guide -pdf Itslearning-alustalla)
- Clatworthy, S. 2017. Service Design Thinking.(Chapter11-servicedesignthinking -pdf Itslearning-alustalla)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322733238_Service_design_thinking
- An Introduction to Design Thinking, PROCESS GUIDE (dschool_designthinking_introduction -pdf Itslearning-alustalla)
- Burnett, Bill; Evans, David, 2016: Designing Your Life, How to build a well-lived, joyful life
- Burnett, Bill; Evans, David, 2020: Designing Your Work Life, How to thrive and find happiness at work

Additive material
- Cross, N. 2011. Design Thinking
- VanPatter, GK; Pastor, E. 2016. Innovation Methods Mapping, De-mystifying 80+ years of innovation process design.
- VanPatter, GK; Pastor, E.; Jones, P. 2020 Rethinking Design Thinking: Making sense of the future that has already arrived.
- Tolle, Echard, 1997: The Power of Now

Teaching methods

Introductory lectures, co-learning, independent study and reflection

Exam schedules

No exams

Pedagogic approaches and sustainable development

Sustainable development is integrated into design thinking in the introduction and reading circle material.

Completion alternatives

-

Student workload

In addition to face-to-face and distance learning sessions, the student's work includes independent guided study. As a guiding definition, 1 ECTS = 27 hours of student work.

Evaluation methods and criteria

The course is evaluated on a scale of 0 to 5.

The grade is affected by active participation in completing tasks and teamwork, completing tasks and following the agreed schedule.

Evaluation criteria (individual exercises, group exercises):
- Coverage and utilization of information acquisition in work
- Reflection, understanding perspectives and understanding the whole
- Returning tasks in the agreed schedule

Self/peer assessment affects the formation of the grade in addition to the teacher's assessment.

Failed (0)

Hasn't participated in meetings and doing things together much and hasn't done learning assignments/tasks.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Sufficient 1
Theory and methodology are poorly understood. The implementation in assignments are poor.
Research, communication and documentation are hardly acceptable.
Moderate participation.

Satisfactory 2
Appear to grasp theory and have made a start in showing its applicability in assignments.
Research, communication and documentation are acceptable.
Moderate participation.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

Good 3
Understanding of theory and applicability of methods in assignments, but work could be stronger.
Research, communication and documentation are good.
Active participation.

Very Good 4
General understanding of theory and methods, very good implementation in assignments.
Reliable research, innovative work and communication and documentation on good level.
Very active participation.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5
Mastery of theory and methods, proficiency of implementation of them in assignments.
Outstanding research, innovative work and excellent communication and documentation.
Very active participation.

Further information

Itslearning