As we are faced with increasingly complex social problems, a growing number of non-profit organizations, governments and international agencies are turning to design thinking. The notion of “designing for good” has become a trend over the past decade, leveraging the tools and method of the creative problem-solving approach of Design Thinking. Design thinking, which has already attracted many companies in search of disruptive innovation, is particularly suited to addressing complex and systemic social and environmental issues with equally complex and complicated solutions.
This course will
introduce participants to design thinking, a human-centered approach to
social innovation to develop
meaningful and sustainable solutions (products, services, communication, processes etc.).
In its approach, this course is action-based and experiential. Such an approach highlights the complexity of many social issues and the need for interconnected, systemic responses. Designing for social innovation requires taking a system approach that involves multi-disciplinary collaboration and engagement of all stakeholders including the end-users or beneficiaries.
Through multiple activities, mini-challenges and a semester-long project, it invites participants to experience the whole design innovation process (researching, ideating, prototyping, testing, communicating and implementing) with a focus on developing and sustaining social innovations.
At the end of the course, students will have learnt the importance of human-centered design in creating social innovation and engaging with different stakeholders. They will also have experimented methods to (re-) frame problems and turn them into opportunities, generate and prototype ideas while having the opportunity to develop key skills for their future career: collaboration skills, project experience and a portfolio of innovative techniques. Overall the course aims to provide participants with an environment to become creative and innovative thinkers and collaborators, and be empowered to students to lead social innovation, social entrepreneurship and innovation movements.
Design Thinking for Social Innovation is suitable for those who are interested in social innovation and/or design thinking and methods but does not require familiarity with either.
- Teacher: Anne-Laure Fayard