What is Design thinking?
Design Thinking is an approach which David Kelley (IDEO founder) has created from his extensive experience. It is often used to reach innovative solutions.
In 2005, d.school, a school for teaching design thinking, was established within Stanford University.
People who have acquired this design thinking approach have become active in Silicon Valley and various industries. The method has come to attract much attention.
Design thinking is applied not only to science and technology fields such as IT industry, science and medicine, but also in a wide variety of fields, such as eliminating the delay of flight arrivals and departures, improving corporate customer service, and developing kitchen products.
“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.”
〜David Kelley
“Design thinking is to upgrade in existing restrictions.”
〜Tim Brown (IDEO CEO)
Fig.1 The difference between logical and critical thinking and design thinking
In design thinking, it is very important to try out a lot of ideas, draw sketches, write down flows on paper, and make prototypes. Speak out your thoughts, move your hands and think, and make your idea visible. Then you can find the discovery which might be better than before. Make further improvements and corrections, and try to make a prototype again. In this repetition, you will be able to create products and solutions whichare truly human centered.
What is STEAM education?
Many of the world's leading-edge junior high schools and high schools incorporate design thinking into the classroom, and develop human resources who are active in the fields of science science, technology engineering, art, and mathematics.
The distinctive feature of STEAM education is to develop creativity, collaboration, agility, and resilience without fear of failure through group approach, interviewing, brainstorming, prototyping and receiving feedback.
*If you want to know more about STEAM Education, click here!
According to the PISA test results, which measure the academic ability of the students in the world, Japanese high school female students are amongst the top students in the world in math and science subjects.
However, the percentage of female students who select technical or science majors at university falls to the lowest level.
Fig.2 Distribution of new students in higher education in STEM field
Fig3. Proportion of female new students in STEM field
The STEAM field is an interesting field for girls. More girls enter the STEM field, more they can make a distinctive discovery and achieve innovative development.
In order for more Japanese girls to enter the STEAM field with courage and confidence, it is important not only to get good results in school, but to understand the design thinking approach and incorporate it in their early age.
Sky Labo’s design thinking summer workshop offers the environment where girls can learn easily under the optimal teaching methods. They can earn the good sense of innovation, science and engineering with fun.
Let's give it a try this program this summer.