WHAT IS DESIGN THINKING
Design Thinking is a tool for problem solving that David Kelley (Co-Founder of IDEO) has made popular from his extensive experience in human-centered design. Design Thinking is not only a method for coming up with innovative solutions, but also a mindset that encourages designers to put people at the center of the design process and embrace the ambiguity of messy, complex needs. This human-centric approach to design has attracted much attention in Silicon Valley and various industries around the world.
“Design thinking is a methodology that focuses on people who use it. A human-centered method of innovation is a method that designers often use to integrate three elements: human needs, what can be done with technology, and the conditions that are required for business success”
DESIGN THINKING VS OTHER KINDS OF THINKING
WHY DESIGN THINKING?
In realizing our vision, we draw from Design Thinking, a method for problem solving that has garnered interest among innovative thinkers, creators, and change-makers. Design Thinking enables young minds to draw from their inner potential and cultivate their creativity.
Design Thinking is used in corporations and governments, and its usage is becoming more popular among educators. Our design thinking and STEM+Liberal Arts workshops expose students to the maker culture and to the process of human-centered design.
We also offer a learning environment where students can switch off their “self-critique” button and help students build their creative confidence, or “the notion that you have big ideas and that you have the ability fo act on them” (Kelley). By deliberately taking away factors that cause fear of judgment and failure, students are able to draw from their innate curiosity, channel their creativity, and develop their critical thinking skills. This approach will help ignite students’ passion for learning and enable them to become more inquisitive and tenacious learners.