Innovation Through Design: Think, Make, Break, Repeat

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/innovation-through-design

Introduction

### Course Review: Innovation Through Design: Think, Make, Break, Repeat **Platform**: Coursera **Offered by**: [Institution Name, if available] #### Overview The course "Innovation Through Design: Think, Make, Break, Repeat" is an engaging journey into the transformative world of design—the discipline that has transcended traditional boundaries to become a fundamental framework for tackling complex and nonlinear problems. In today's dynamic professional landscape, the ability to harness design as a strategic tool is essential, making this course applicable to a diverse range of fields and professions. #### Course Structure & Content The course is expertly organized into five key modules that cover the complete design process: 1. **Introducing Design** This foundational module lays the groundwork by introducing the principles of human-centered design and its critical role in fostering innovation. Through interviews with industry leaders, learners gain insight into what design innovation entails and how it is practically applied across various sectors. This module effectively establishes the importance of considering user needs at the beginning of any design project. 2. **Design Thinking** Delving deeper, this module explores the concept of design thinking as the first step in the innovation journey. Participants learn how to gather and analyze user data, using case studies from industry experts to illustrate successful techniques. The hands-on approach provides learners with the knowledge to implement design thinking in their projects, emphasizing its significance as the bedrock for innovative solutions. 3. **Design Making** Transitioning from ideation to execution, this module focuses on how to bring user insights to life through concepts, prototypes, and minimum viable products (MVPs). The discussions surrounding ideation and prototyping are complemented by real-world applications shared by industry experts, showcasing the practicalities and importance of these stages in the design process. 4. **Design Breaking** Evaluation is vital in design, and this module addresses the importance of "breaking" designs to assess their effectiveness. It covers various methodologies for evaluating design solutions and introduces fundamental design principles. By showcasing examples from industry design innovation projects, participants learn how to critique and refine their work critically. 5. **Repeating Design** The concluding module emphasizes the iterative nature of design, teaching students how to apply what they've learned continuously. A design research project brings together all previous topics, providing a practical application of the skills acquired. Insights from industry professionals further enrich this module, equipping learners with actionable tips for their design careers. #### Learning Experience One of the standout features of this course is its robust engagement with industry experts, whose insights offer a real-world context that enhances theoretical understanding. The blend of theoretical concepts, practical tools, and expert perspectives creates a rich learning environment that furthers comprehension and retention. Additionally, the course's user-friendly structure and thoughtful pacing make it accessible to practitioners at various stages of their careers. #### Who Should Enroll? This course is suited for anyone looking to enhance their problem-solving capabilities, regardless of their professional background. Whether you're an entrepreneur, business leader, product designer, or social innovator, the frameworks and insights provided will bolster your ability to approach challenges creatively and effectively. #### Recommendation I highly recommend "Innovation Through Design: Think, Make, Break, Repeat" for professionals eager to innovate and enhance their strategic thinking skills. The course's emphasis on human-centered design, practical applications, and iterative learning makes it a valuable asset in today's rapidly evolving job market. By engaging with this course, learners will equip themselves with essential tools to navigate complexity and drive innovation in their respective fields. Enroll today and empower yourself to be a catalyst for change through the art and science of design!

Syllabus

Introducing design

This module introduces the concept of human-centred design and explores its role for innovation. We give a short introduction to design innovation and review the process that design innovation projects typically follow. The module also features interviews with industry experts about their views on what design innovation is and how it is applied in industry.

This module provides you with an understanding of the first step in any design innovation project, which we refer to as design thinking. We discuss its role in the human-centred design process and how it relates to innovation. The module will also examine some of the tools used to collect data about users and customers. Industry experts explain the role of this step and the methods they use through concrete case studies.

In this module, we look at the design making part of the process. In design making, user or customer data is turned into concepts, prototypes and minimum viable products, which can be used to gain initial feedback about ideas. Industry experts discuss the importance of ideation and prototyping in the design industry.

This module looks at the value of evaluating designs, referred to as the design breaking part of a design innovation process. We explain some methods for evaluating design solutions, introduce fundamental design principles and see how designers are applying these methods in industry design innovation projects.

This module focuses on the very important step in the design process of repeating, or iteration, and its role in design innovation. We also provide a summary of all the topics covered in the course and take you through the design process with a design research project. Industry experts share their insights and tips about working in the design industry.