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DSN 402

DSN 402: Global Problems: A Design Thinking Approach

Prerequisites: This course is intended for design department majors and minors, or by instructor and/ or chair approval.

Credit Hours: (3)

Design thinking is an active practice of human-centered creative problem-solving which prepares designers to manage complexity, embrace risk, and think empathically about complex social problems. In this interdisciplinary hands-on course, students will experiment with design thinking methods to propose creative solutions beyond design fields.


Detailed Description of Course

Design thinking is an active practice of human-centered creative problem-solving which prepares designers to manage complexity, embrace risk, and think empathically about complex social problems. In this interdisciplinary hands-on course, students will experiment with design thinking methods to propose creative solutions beyond design fields and enhance their understanding of design as a critical creative thinking practice that cultivates valuable skills and attitudes. The challenges facing our world today are wide-reaching, embedded in complex and interrelated systems that require critical creative thinking to develop multiple solutions. Design might be the answer.

Major Topics:

  1. Design vs. Design Thinking:
    1. Parallels and differences (i.e. Design processes, Divergent and convergent thinking, Human-centered, Design mindsets (superpowers – tolerance of ambiguity, productive failure, collaboration, empathy), Tangible vs. Intangible outcomes
  2. Working with complex problems:
    1. General characteristics (Well-formulated vs. Ill-formulated, 'Wicked problems')
    2. Information gathering (Sourcing information on current issues, Library databases – understanding scholarly perspectives on current issues, Interdisciplinary approaches to information gathering)
  3. Design thinking methods:
    1. Creative reframing
    2. Empathy – understanding stakeholders
    3. Human-centered and culture-aware thinking
    4. Idea generation
    5. Low stakes testing – design iteration, productive failure
  4. Design communication:
    1. Translating design approaches to non-designers
    2. Integrating data and graphics in visual communication
    3. Storytelling – building the narrative
  5. Collaborating with others:
    1. Valuing interdisciplinary perspectives – strengths-based contributions
    2. Establishing protocols and policies
    3. Evaluating the effectiveness of the team


Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Students will complete a series of Charrettes in groups. Debates, role playing exercises, in class discussion, readings, and guest lecturers could also be used.


Student Goals and Objectives of the Course

Instructional strategies:

  • Text discussions: Design/ Designers in the context of Global Problems, Design Thinking, Characteristics of Problems, Wicked Problems
  • Project work
  • Individual/small group and collaborative Team structures
  • design methods, such as: stakeholder mapping, empathy mapping, interview, affinity cluster, problem framing, idea generation, storytelling.
  • local/global complex issue or wicked problems
  • Problem framing
  • Research/info gathering
  • Solution-building, systems thinking for solutions
  • Presentation and Communication
  • Individual Rationale and Critical Reflection: to incorporate text discussions listed above, prompting students to analyze their design solutions, reflect on actions/outcomes, mindsets, etc.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

  1. apply design thinking methods and practices in new contexts.
  2. examine complex issues through a variety of social, intellectual, and ecological perspectives.
  3. develop empathic solutions that prioritize human-centered approaches.
  4. integrate knowledge, information, and creativity in problem-solving.
  5. express design solutions using a variety of visual communication techniques appropriate to a range of purposes and audiences.
  6. critically reflect on individual and collaborative development of design attributes.
  7. demonstrate an understanding of design as critical creative thinking practice.
  8. understand technology-based collaboration methods specific to the problem-solving process*

Upon completion of the course, the student has had:

  1. exposure to current and emerging issues that are shaping contemporary society and the world*
  2. exposure to a range of problem identification and problem-solving methods*
  3. exposure to methods of idea generation and design thinking*
    * Learning outcomes are specific to CIDA accreditation standards


Assessment Measures

Text discussions

Individual Rationale and Critical Reflection: to incorporate text discussions, prompting students to analyze their design solutions, reflect on actions/outcomes, mindsets, etc.

Project work:

  • Individual/small group problem identification exercise
  • Team (collaborative) structure project – local/global complex issue or wicked problem.
  • Addressing: Problem framing; research/info gathering; Solution-building; Team collaborative structure
  • Presentation and Communication both internal and external class presentation, i.e. participation in Wicked Fest or other out-of-class presentation event, video presentation of design solution


Other Course Information

This course is highly collaborative and requires a classroom allowing for group collaboration areas and discussion

This course addresses problem solving techniques and wicked problems, typically participating the university-wide Wicked Fest


Review and Approval
March 20, 2012

March 19, 2025

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