NYU Wagner | PADM-GP.2145 – Fall 2015
Design Thinking: A Creative Approach to Problem Solving and Creating Impact
Instructor
Joan Kelly
Kellyj10@nyu.edu
Course Overview
The word "design" has traditionally been used to describe the visual aesthetics of objects such as
books, websites, products, interiors, architecture, and fashion. But increasingly, the definition of
design has expanded to include not just artifacts but strategic services and systems. As the
challenges and opportunities facing businesses, organizations, and society grow more complex,
and as stakeholders grow more diverse; an approach known as "design thinking" is playing a
greater role in finding meaningful paths forward.
Design thinking is an iterative problem-solving process of discovery, ideation, and
experimentation that employs various design-based techniques to gain insight and yield
innovative solutions for virtually any type of organizational or business challenge, prominently
including those within public service. At the heart of this approach is a deep sensitivity to the
needs of people, whether they are consumers, clients, or everyday citizens.
In "Design Thinking: A Creative Approach to Problem Solving and Creating Impact," we will
unpack each step of the design thinking process and become familiar with the design thinker's
toolkit. Students will develop skills as ethnographers, visual thinkers, strategists, service
designers, and storytellers through a hybrid of seminar discussions and collaborative projects.
Over the course of seven weeks, students will directly apply what they have learned to a public
service issue that they are passionate about, by untangling the complexities of related policy and
exploring innovative ways to create real impact.
Prerequisite
None
Dates + Time + Location
Saturdays: 2:30 – 6pm
September 12, 2015
September 26, 2015
October 10, 2015
October 24, 2015
November 7, 2015
November 21, 2015
December 5, 2015
Building: Bldg: BOBS Room:LL150
Office Hours
I’m available throughout the week upon appointment.
Course Projects
Students will engage in a series of skill developing assignments that build upon each other
throughout the duration of the course. The class will culminate in a final project that will allow
students to apply what they have learned to a specific social and policy challenge they are
passionate about. More specific details around course projects will be discussed in the first class.
Final Presentation
A final presentation will be a key deliverable for this course. In each session, students will learn
different tools and ways of thinking that advance project work on their design challenge and build
toward the final presentation. Highlights of the presentation include:
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Statement of the design challenge and overview of the problem solving approach
Insights based on the design research conducted
Key themes, identified needs and opportunity areas drawn from research insights
Visualized concepts that address the opportunity areas and size of opportunity
A plan to make the solution concepts actionable and measurable
Reading Assignments
There will be a combination of required and optional readings throughout the course. Students
will be expected to contribute to discussions via comments on a course blog as well as in class.
Course Readings (Required)
o
Change by Design by Tim Brown
Weekly articles or videos may include, but are not limited to, the following. We will discuss which
ones to review for specific classes during the course:
o
“Design Thinking” by Tim Brown
o
Harvard Business Review, September 2015. Articles: Design for Action by Tim Brown
and Roger Martin, Design Thinking Comes of Age by Jon Kolko, How Samsung Became
a Design Powerhouse by Youngjin Yoo and Kyungmook Kim, How Indra Nooyi Turned
Design Thinking Into Strategy by Adi Ignatius
Recommended Readings (Optional)
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Value Proposition Design by Alex Osterwalder, Yves Pigneur, Greg Bernarda, Alan Smith
Service Design: From Insight to Implementation by Anday Polaine
Thinking, Slow and Fast by Daniel Kahneman
Applied Imagination: Principles and Procedures of Creative Problem Solving by Alex F.
Osborn
Materials
Aside from having access to a computer, printer, and camera (smartphone cameras are
acceptable), students will be required to obtain materials in order to complete course
assignments and project work. Most of these items are available in an office supply store, if you
don’t already own.
Grades
Students will be graded on their final presentations as well as their participation in class and
completion of assignments. Grading is based on NYU’s universal criteria:
https://wagner.nyu.edu/adjunct/files/gradingGuidelines.pdf
Grade Breakdown:
20% Class participation and attendance
20% Homework assignments
20% Project work
40% Final Presentation
Weekly Course Breakdown (Subject to Change)
September 12th
September 26th
October 10th
October 24th
November 7th
November 21st
December 5th
Class 1
Class 2
Class 3
Class 4
Class 5
Class 6
Class 7
Design Thinking | Framing the Challenge
Service Design | Design Research
Field Work
Analyzing & Synthesizing Research
Brainstorming | Prototyping | Testing
Action Planning | Measurement | Brain Sailing
Final Presentations