Design Thinking

Design Thinking is a problem solving method and a mindset underpinned by design processes that are applicable not only in design problems but also in business innovation. In this course, students will be equipped with design thinking problem solving method and mindset through various design projects. Particularly, service design thinking, that is design thinking in the context of experience economy and service-dominant logic, will be primarily addressed. The course will also address some cognitive aspects of designing products and services and of understanding human as consumers, users and customers. The core course activity includes several team-based or individual projects addressing design thinking and human understanding topics covered in lecture. The final team project would present the opportunity to combine a few topical issues discussed in the course.

Contents: Design Thinking Process and Mindset, Seeing – Imagining – Drawing Iterations of Visual Thinking, Understanding Human Values (Economic, Ecological and Experience), Human Activities and Experiences, Context-Based Activity Modeling and Experience Evaluation, Experience – Evaluate – Engage Iterations in Customer Experiences, Design for Affordances, Design Creativity and Design Strategies.

Customized Design Thinking Workshops for Companies can be arranged: yongse.kim@utu.fi