We live in a world where technology advancements, global interconnectedness, and challenges of un-imagined consequences have led to a greater awareness of problems that are referred to as “wicked” or “messy.” This course focuses on the application of systems and design thinking strategies and methods to create pragmatic yet innovative solutions in the form of products and services for wicked and messy problems. Through interactive idealized design; problem dissolution methods; non-linear thinking tools, out-of-the-box-thinking, design prototyping, and strategic exploration tools, students will explore, experience, and embrace design as means to new value creation. This course will highlight the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary and collaborative perspective, one that recognizes a balance between efficiency, and effectiveness; planning and action; risks and rewards; necessity and utility; and between short-term and long-term implications.
This is a full Summer semester course where the first half of the course focuses on understanding systems and design thinking and identifying a contemporary relevant business problem. In the second half of the course, students will use systems and design thinking methods to design and prototype a solution.