Design Thinking and Innovation
Subject Overview
Design Thinking and Innovation teaches a learning-by-doing, design-based approach to innovation — the four-stage Design Thinking process (Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Implement) illustrated through global success stories, developing empathy and framing 'wicked problems', ideation and prototyping techniques, and iterating through user feedback to a final concept and presentation. A 2-credit core theory paper.
Unit-wise Syllabus
4 units — click WhatsApp below to get the full notes for each
Unit 1: Basics of Design Thinking
Concept and significance of innovation in business, creative thinking and problem-solving approaches, the Design Thinking approach and its objective, customer centricity and product experience, global success stories (Airbnb, Apple, IDEO, Netflix), the four/five-stage Design Thinking process
Unit 2: Empathize and define
Importance of empathy in the innovation process, observing and assimilating information, understanding individual differences, identifying 'wicked problems' and their potential impact
Unit 3: Ideate, prototype and implement
Ideation templates (brainstorming, systems thinking), reaching consensus on wicked problems, mapping customer experience, methods and purpose of rapid prototyping, implementation
Unit 4: Feedback, re-design and re-create
The feedback loop and user experience focus, addressing ergonomic challenges, final concept testing, final presentation of the innovative design solution