IA20080 Design Thinking for Innovation

Academic Year 2024/2025

OVERVIEW:
Design Thinking is a user-centric creative problem-solving process which is increasingly applied across public and private sectors to solve real-world challenges. It is a proven and repeatable approach that can be used to gain real-world insights and then to identify new opportunities, solve problems, and develop innovative solutions using an iterative process.

The primary objective of this module is to equip students with the knowledge and practical skills to apply Design Thinking in solving real-world challenges. The learner will be introduced to Design Thinking, while participating in a week-long intensive Design Sprint. Over the course of the module, the learner will be introduced to the key theories and concepts of Design Thinking and work in a team to address a real-world challenge.

This module will present students with a real-world challenge and solutions in solving a problem. The Challenge(s) will be selected with Expert(s), who will be available for interview, and students will be expected to interview members of the public/their community as relevant. This is will take place in the form of an innovative Design Sprint over course of the module. This will involve students working in teams, following the Design Thinking process and presenting potential solutions in the form of a pitch.

Over the course of the module, participants will be introduced to the five stages of Design Thinking through experiential learning activities, talks with guest speakers and team-based activities. While working in multi-disciplinary teams, participants will experience the Empathy phase before moving on to the next stages of Design Thinking (Define, Ideate, Prototype & Test) to develop an insightful understanding of a real-world challenge before prototyping and presenting a creative innovative solution.

This module is suitable for students from any discipline.


SCHEDULE & MODE OF DELIVERY:
Format: In-person workshops - 09:30 - 16:30 each day
Important: You must be available to attend and participate 9.30am - 4.30pm every day of the module and complete any pre-module tasks and post-module deliverables.


UCD INNOVATION ACADEMY:
www.innovationacademy.ie
Please check https://www.innovationacademy.ie/courses/ucd-undergraduate-module/ for delivery dates of all UCD Innovation Academy modules for 2024/2025.
At the UCD Innovation Academy, we are Educator Practitioners with extensive real-world experience as academics, business and social entrepreneurs, tech thinkers, creative professionals and design thinking practitioners.
Our teaching is grounded in academic rigour. Our focus is on ‘learning by doing’ in a real-world context. Classes include a combination of individual and team tasks and activities, along with discussions, presentations and reflection.
The Facilitation Specialist will introduce the students to the processes and tools that will enable the students to gain key insights and develop new ideas of value.
Enrolment on an Innovation Academy module means a commitment to active participation and engagement, which necessitates attendance at all scheduled classes.

NOTES:
Class Size: We limit our class size to 36 students or less. We require a minimum of 16 participants to ensure enough people for teamwork and a dynamic classroom environment. On very rare occasions, if fewer than 16 registered students register, we will offer students the opportunity to join another class.


Please visit module IA20190 Design Thinking (Online) for online options in January (Autumn Trimester) and March (Spring Trimester).