Module 3: Design Thinking

Module 3: Design Thinking

In the final unit, students will learn about human-centered design principles and the creative process. Through a sequence of readings and exercises, students will be able to identify strong and weak design elements, understand the historical and cultural properties of objects, and translate these design principles to digital media and user interfaces. We will also consider the cultural dimensions of digital technology, exploring issues of access, as they pertain to design.

Readings

Core Texts

Supplementary Texts

Blog Post 3: Is There An App for That?

  1. Action: Imagine a smartphone app that can do the unthinkable (think sci-fi). Describe what it does and how it works. Design at least one image of the app (either by hand or using software) that renders the app in terms of a single page, frame, or icon. Post the image to your blog.
  2. Reflection: Analyze how this app works and why it is important. Consider the purpose of this app on a large cultural scale: “the app that changed the world.” What social or cultural issues can this app address?
  3. Connection: Connect to at least one text from this unit.

Project

For your Design Thinking project, you will design a new digital tool using human-centered design processes. Refer to An Introduction to Design Thinking: Process Guide for the Design Stages from Empathy to Testing.

Objectives

  • Demonstrate awareness of how human culture impacts design and digital environments
  • Demonstrate awareness of human-centered design thinking and design processes
  • Demonstrate awareness of the basic conventions in writing and communicating your ideas

Present your work in three sections, using a memo template in your word processing software. Sample Template

Section 1: Vision Statement: Empathize and Define

Collect your observations and interviews about a specific digital tool or object that others have interacted with. Record these observations and define your objective or purpose. Culminate this section with a visionary statement about the problem you are addressing.

Requirements:

  1. Pay special attention to human capabilities and human differences in your observations and interviews.
  2. Length: 300-400 words

Section 2: Design Proposal: Ideate, Prototype, and Test

In this section, capture your design process during two different stages of development: your first attempts at designing the object, and your revised attempts after testing it out with potential users. Present both images, and analyze how and why your design changes.

Requirements:

  1. Detail the elements of your design, focusing on human-centered design decisions.
  2. Include at least TWO images created by you (drawing, photograph, digital design).
  3. Length: 300-400 words

Section 3: Reflection on the Design Thinking Process

In this section, reflect on your design and the design process, connecting your decisions and insights to at least two texts from this unit.

Requirements:

  1. Emphasize the cultural implications of your design. How will your design impact our culture?
  2. Refer to at least two texts from the Design Thinking unit.
  3. Length: 300-400 words

Rubric

Concerns
(Areas that Need Work)
Meets Criteria
(Standards for This Performance)
Advanced
(Evidence of Exceeding Standards)
Cultural Awareness

Demonstrate awareness of how culture impacts design and digital environments, as evidenced by your analysis of specific cultural issues and exploration of solutions in your design
Human-Centered Design Thinking

Demonstrate awareness of human-centered design processes, which include researching, interviewing, prototyping, and testing your ideas, as evidenced by your reflection on your design process
Connections

Demonstrate attention to the course readings and how they connect to your explorations in design thinking
Writing Conventions

Demonstrate awareness of the basic conventions in writing and communicating your ideas, as evidenced by proofreading, descriptive language, and reflection