Approach

Teachers will be using the Design Thinking approach to guide students through the IDS. Design Thinking is a creative act and lets students to understand that the act of creating is an art that is reflective, intentional and collaborative.

The design process is what puts Design Thinking into action. It is a structured approach to generating and evolving ideas. It consists of five phases that helps students to navigate the development from empathising with the needs of the community to finding and building a solution.

This is a deeply human approach that relies on students to be sensitive and intuitive, to interpret what they observe and to develop ideas that are emotionally meaningful to those they are designing for.

*After exploring this section, you may want to take a look at the Design Thinking Field Guide.

What is Design Thinking?

Design Thinking is a way of looking at how to improve people’s lives. It involves going through a process of understanding people, discovering needs, envisioning a better life, and making it a reality.

Design Thinking is not simply solving a problem, nor is it about making things fancy.

Why should we do Design Thinking?

Design Thinking seeks to promote understanding, spark creativity, encourage action, and build a better community for everyone.

By engaging in Design Thinking, we do not just solve problems. We grow as individuals, and help to build up the ties between people, so that together, we make our little piece of Earth a better place to live our lives to the fullest.

How do we do Design Thinking?

Design Thinking is a process of asking the right questions and thinking in the right areas. People are often focused on finding the right answer to things. In Design Thinking, we believe that the right answers can only be found when we ask the right questions, and the right questions should be asked according to the EDICT of Design Thinking:

Empathise

• Learn about the underserved people you would like to help

- What do they do? Find out what they do daily

- What is important to their lives?

- What do they value most? Family? Lifestyle? Health? Security?

- How are they connected to their community? Religious group? Civic group? Position in the (extended) family?

- What are some challenges that they face in terms of either mobility, entertainment, health or environment

Define

• What would help your underserved community live a better life?

- Tell the story of your target community, so that you get a clearer picture of what is important to them

- Pick one important thing to them that you can work on improving

It could lessen their burden in one area of their life, or enhance their pleasure in another area of their life

It must be related to the areas of mobility, health, entertainment or environment (for this project)

Ideate

• Generate ideas on how to improve what you’ve chosen

- Consider the different aspects of improvement

• How can you work together with others to make your ideas better?

Create a Prototype

• How will you show your idea for improvement to others?

- Think about the mode of communication -

Will you build a scale model of your improved product?

Will you use charts and graphs, or a block of explanatory text?

Will people interact with your model or charts?

Will you be capturing your ideas in digital form?

- Think about the focus of communication

When people look at your model or chart or digital presentation, what will they notice first?

Is everything visible from a first look, or is there something your audience needs to explore and discover?

How will the interaction between your audience and your prototype improve their understanding of what you are trying to do?

Test

• You need to test the feasibility of your prototype with the target community who might be using your prototype.

Think of how you will be engaging them in testing out your prototype. For example, showing and explaining to them and gathering verbal feedback or conducting a survey etc.

After gathering feedback from your target community you will need to think about the revision or refinements you need to make to your prototype to better meet the needs of your target community.

Your final idea (models, charts, digital presentation) will be evaluated at the Startup Fair 2018: Sustainable Community by venture capitalists who will determine how much they are willing to invest in your startup idea.

The Design Thinking approach will enable students to take on the role of a designer, step out of their comfort zone and see problems or challenges as opportunities to bring about change for the better of the community.