Introduction

Design Thinking is one of the world’s most popular approaches to establishing dynamic, human-centred, goal-oriented innovation. The Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation through Design Thinking educates design thinkers to work across a wide spectrum of settings and sectors.

Participants in the programme learn how to:

• Apply design thinking in organisational settings to address real world challenges
• Use tools and frameworks for implementing and scaling human centred change in complex environments
• Develop data and digital literacy competencies required for innovation
• Identify and analyse trends driving change in an increasingly digital age
• Adopt the principles of an action design approach in praxis
• Demonstrate an ability to clearly present and discuss ideas, designs and solutions
• Manage the practicalities of working within teams charged with designing, prototyping, and evaluating solutions

The programme is taught across both the School of Education and the university business school.

As part of group assessments in the education modules, students are asked to create a group eportfolio which charts their journey as a team through the various stages of applied design thinking towards solving a grand challenge. Students are also required to prepare pitch presentations which showcase the end solution to their challenge.

This Pressbook showcases two eportfolio examples from student teams in the 2021/2022 cohort for the program for the education assessment modules. It also includes pitch presentations from both 2021/22 and 2020/21 cohorts.

It is envisaged that these exemplars will demonstrate to students how they might consider to capture their own learning journeys as a team and how to present information in a coherent, meaningful, reflective, creative and engaged way.

We hope that this resource will continue to grow, change and iterate, much as any design thinking project.

With best wishes,

Dr Briony Supple, Senior Lecturer, Design Thinking Pedagogy and Praxis, School of Education, UCC

Dr Fiona Chambers, Senior Lecturer, School of Education, UCC  | Design Thinking Coach | Design Sprint Coach | Founder Global Design Challenge for Sport and Physical Activity