HOUSTON, TX., April 9, 2009 | Upstream co-founder Tim Sweeney led an interactive workshop on design thinking for 3^rd and 4^th year students in the Industrial Design program at the University of Houston.  “Our aim with this workshop was to expand the boundaries of design well beyond “product” and instill the thinking skills required to deliver broader social impact”, says Sweeney.  Over 25 students from Professor Eunsook Kwon’s Junior and Senior studios participated. 

To inspire students and establish a foundation for the day, Sweeney discussed the attributes, skills and real world practice of design thinking.  Following his talk students formed groups of 5 in preparation for a 3 phase practical exercise.  In phase I groups identified changes in student behavior they have noticed.  This effort resulted with insight questions like, “why are more and more students taking online classes?” and “why are students beginning to wear opposite gender apparel?”

Insight questions focused a quick phase II research study to understand the logic behind why these human behavioral changes are occurring.  For example, ownership of time was driving the student desire for more online classes.  Understanding the forces responsible for shifts in human behavior provided design students with key insight into unmet and emerging student body needs and desires.  Through this understanding challenge statements were developed.  For example, “How do you compress learning cycles in a home environment?” and “How do you create authentic student community?”

In phase III, students envisioned new scenarios that addressed challenge statements in context.  As a result, they defined business opportunities.  “That was a lot for any student to absorb.  Considering this was a 4 hour workshop I was really impressed with the results”, Sweeney remarked.  Solutions included bringing interactive contextual learning into the home through a 3-dimensional experience, a genderless fashion & apparel brand, a new category of drinks targeted at helping students manage their lifestyles in a more health conscious manner, and a “message in a bottle” concept that provides an analogue experience to broadcast honest messages through the student community.

“We believe designers are uniquely suited to lead diverse teams through definition, problem solving and co-creation processes.  I think the workshop proved to be a great introduction to this notion.” said Sweeney.  Kwon added, “I believe this workshop proved successful from both academic and professional practice perspectives.  Students were able to explore strategic design thinking processes, which could support and reinforce their learning in studio.”  Students plan to practice the methodologies learned today throughout their student and professional careers.