Understanding design may sound simple at first, but these activities help students see the impact of design across their daily life and appreciate how design is not a simple action but an amazing web of behaviors, models, methods, and outcomes.
In “What Counts as Design?” students will have an introduction to the concept of design as a broad, multidisciplinary, and ultimately common action in their everyday lives. From creating a playlist, to developing a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, to planning a UX mobile prototype, design happens everywhere.
Subject area: Understanding design
Activity types: Affinity grouping, Brainstorming, Discussion
In “Many Models of Design” students explore “How do you design?: A Compendium of Design Models” by Hugh Dubberly. The Dubberly Compendium is an amazing resource that compiles over one hundred design process models. Through their exploration, students are introduced to the idea that design is plural, not monolithic.
Subject area: Understanding design, Data visualization, Design process, Reflection
Activity type: Discussion
In “Art and Perspective” students find and share art pieces that reflect the concept of “perspective”. Perspective is an important part of design. Designers and engineers focus on multiple users and stakeholders’ perspectives, and take into account the context of the space they’re in.
Subject Area: Understanding design, Design awareness, Reflection
Activity Type: Brainstorming