Module Code - Title:
AH6001
-
FACILITATING DESIGN THINKING AND COLLABORATION IN INDUSTRY AND THE WORLD WE LIVE IN
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
The primary purpose of this module is to introduce students who come from a non-technical background to the core components of design thinking and to the role that it plays in manufacturing and service industries. The module will also introduce students to the role played by design thinking in other sectors, including the public and not for profit sectors. The module is being created on foot of a suggestion from industry partners to create a module on design thinking for students coming from an arts, humanities or social science background.
Syllabus:
The module will introduce students to the meaning and evolution of design thinking and its application in a range of contexts, especially industry, both manufacturing and service. Students will be introduced to the five stages of design thinking i.e., empathising, defining, ideating, developing prototypes and testing solutions, and to some of the methods and techniques associated with each. In addition, students will learn how to effectively facilitate group processes leading to enhanced collaboration in pursuit of effective design outcomes. Students will also be introduced to techniques to stimulate creative problem solving, including idea identification, prioritisation and implementation, as well to an appreciation of the potential for predetermined ideas and biases to hinder innovation and creativity. Finally, the module will examine the relationship between design thinking and sustainable development.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Define and explain the main principles of design thinking and its different stages
- Demonstrate an understanding how design thinking is used to identify and deliver solutions to the challenges facing manufacturing as well as service industries
- Recognise the role and challenges of collaboration in design process
- Identify and apply core facilitation skills
- Demonstrate understanding about the potential wider application of design thinking approaches beyond industry.
- Propose innovative solutions to specific problems derived from real world case studies
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Embrace a more creative and open-minded approach to problem-solving.
- Recognize the importance of designing solutions to problems with the end-users' needs and experiences in mind.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
This module will be taught in a highly interactive fashion using a combination of lectures and tutorials. The module will draw heavily on 'real world' case studies of both social and economic innovation and will introduce practitioners of design thinking and their approaches to module participants. Students will be engaged in scenario and challenge based learning and will be expected to apply facilitation skills to enable effective collaboration in the pursuit of design solutions. The module will make use of both individual and group based exercise, and will use the latter in particular for scenario / challenge based assignments. In this way, the module will address a number of the UL graduate attributes. It will foster curiosity and build problem solving capacity. By including team based components it will require students to be both responsible and agile, open to listening to and acting on the inputs of fellow students.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Stickdorn, M and Schneider, J.
(2011)
This is service design thinking : basics, tools, cases
, BIS Amsterdam
Liedeka, J (2014)
Innovative ways companies are using
design thinking
, Strategy and Leadership Vol 42, 2.
Mintrom, M. and Luetjens (2016)
Design Thinking in Policymaking Processes:
Opportunities and Challenges
, Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 75, no. 3,
Lerwick, M, Link, P. and Leifer, L. (2018)
The Design Thinking Playbook
, Wiley
Lerwick, M, Link, P. and Leifer, L. (2020)
The Design Thinking Toolbox
, Wiley
Rosch, Tiberius and Kraus (2023)
Design Thinking for Innovation
, European Journal of Innovation
Management Vol. 26 No. 7,
Other Relevant Texts:
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
MSCETITFA - COMMUNICATIONS, EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND INDUSTRY PRACTICES
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Autumn
Module Leader:
chris.g.mcinerney@ul.ie