In this course we creatively apply information technologies to collectively attack Global Grand Challenges (e.g., global warming, rising healthcare costs and declining access, and ensuring quality education for all). This quarter we will focus on helping those left behind by the information economy to gain the skills necessary to join in. Interdisciplinary student teams will carry out needfinding within the target domain, followed by brainstorming to propose a quarter long project. Teams will spend the rest of the quarter applying user-centered design methods to rapidly iterate through design, prototyping, and testing of their solutions. This course will interleave a weekly lecture with a weekly studio session where students apply the techniques hands-on in a small, supportive environment.

We are looking for ambitious students at all levels (undergraduate and graduate) from all majors (the humanities, the socials sciences, design, science, and engineering) to join this class and bring their creativity to bear on one of the most important problems facing our country today. Students who have not been exposed to the design thinking process will learn the basics and those who are already steeped in design thinking will become more expert in applying it to a new problem while coaching their peers.

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Teaching Team