Prototyping to Launch

Catalog description

This course will focus on strengthening the fundamentals of human-centered design taught in the Design Thinking and Making course ( EDSGN 367 ), which serves as a prerequisite to this course. The course will be a team- and project-based course, encouraging hands -on learning through action; students will be given a problem prompt at the start of the semester, but the project and solution are to be of their choosing. Students will develop a prototype each week that advances their understanding of design methodologies and project -specific design knowledge. The goal of the course will be to "launch" a solution in some meaningful way. This could include getting market validation via online platforms, for example, having users sign-up for a beta release. The course will focus on teaching hands-on design-thinking skills via intentional prototyping practice, leveraging a series of design methods and toolsets. Students will also be exposed to a variety of "maker" technologies, and become proficient in not only using this technology to manufacture prototypes, but selecting appropriate maker tools dependent upon design need and context.