Module: CPU6002-20  Innovation Lab 1

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: 

Module Tutor Contact Details: 

1. Brief description and aims of module:

The Innovation Lab modules are a forum for the co-creation of computing products (e.g. applications, experiences, tools or services) that have potential commercial impact. Products developed in the Lab must engage a given theme, yet their overall form and function is flexible. Innovation Lab at large is a staging area that aims to prepare you for professional working within fields related closely to computing. To this end, the programme adopts development strategies used in industry, while offering an extended opportunity to refine the transferable skills you need be effective in the world of work.

Innovation Lab I concerns the ideation and preproduction stages of product development. You are introduced to the year’s Lab theme, and then engage activities that help you to establish a project team. Emphasis here is placed on identifying each member’s strengths and areas of personal development. Teams then enter into a period of deep thinking, leading to ideas pitches and ultimately the generation of materials that elucidate the chosen solution. The final stage is a Sprint (with review and retrospective) that intends to deliver a proof of concept.

2. Outline syllabus: 

• Demystifying the terms ‘innovation’ and ‘commercialisation’

• The theme: problems to be solved and opportunities for innovation

• Team creation and role assignment

• The tools to facilitate effective co-creation

• Strategies for deep thinking and ideation

• Market research: profiling your audience, knowing your competitors

• Methods for auditioning proposed solutions

• Planning and undertaking a Sprint

• Critical review of activity and outputs

3. Teaching and learning activities: 

Class Hours

Innovation Lab modules adopt a studio approach. As a result, some weeks are more demanding than others in terms of team effort. You therefore need to plan your time carefully to ensure that you can contribute to the project effectively, particularly in the lead-up to and during deep thinking and Sprint activities.

Across the process, academic team members are on hand to guide the trajectory of ideas and to help teams apply appropriate methods of creative thinking, production and critical review. We in addition provide advice sessions on the topic of taking a product to market. These include information on legal due diligence (IP, compliance, safety), determining a pricing strategy and testing your proposition.

Independent Learning

It is critical that you maintain regular engagement with your project team for the duration of Innovation Lab I. Although many of the required engagement activities are conducted in class, the quality of your product relies on your team’s capacity to iterate and refine it outside of scheduled sessions.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description:  Sprint retrospective (1500 words)

• % Weighting: 30

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description:  Proof of concept with supporting commercial context

• % Weighting: 70