Design Thinking: Ideation, Iteration and Communication

Designing a successful and innovative solution requires creative ideas and their iteration. As critical phases of the design thinking process, ideation and iteration are often what distinguish design thinking from traditional or linear problem-solving approaches. This course, part of the Design Thinking MicroMasters program, will explain and provide context and instruction on essential ideation techniques such as:

• Brainstorming
• Mind mapping
• Role playing
• Storyboarding
• Concept sketching
• Model making
• Strategic idea mapping

After ideation, the solution(s) that best address the original problem are chosen to present. This course will discuss best practices for selecting solutions and common pitfalls to avoid when communicating solutions to a client.

• Discuss visualization techniques
• Ideation techniques to help arrive at the best solution
• How to select an appropriate visualization technique to present a solution
• Best practices for communicating ideas effectively using graphic techniques