AEM 4375 - Advanced Design & Innovation

(CU-CEL)

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only (no audit).

Prerequisite: AEM 3110, AEM 5110 or relevant coursework/experience. Permission of instructor required.

D. Ramzy.

This engaged learning course builds on AEM 2180/NBA 5180 Design & Innovation by providing students with an opportunity to apply lessons and theories of design research, process and strategy to a client-based project. Serving as a Grand Challenge capstone course, the class will work with a social enterprise client, and under that rubric, the class will tackle issues and challenges such as new product, service or business model development; organizational structure and growth; and external threats and opportunities. Working in multidisciplinary teams with real deadlines and deliverables with an external partner, students will use a design toolkit and mindset for creative problem solving specifically related to a Grand Challenge. This collaboration will allow students to immerse themselves in a professional setting in which they will be exposed to the relevant industry and players, explore business opportunities, and develop innovative concepts and propose solutions.

Outcome 1: Students will be able to apply qualitative and ethnographic design research techniques in a client-based project.

Outcome 2: Students will be able to hone visualization and storytelling methods to synthesize and communicate data and concepts.

Outcome 3: Students will be able to use the iterative process for problem solving: generating, testing, and refining ideas, products, business models, etc.

Outcome 4: Students will be able to practice working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams.

Outcome 5: Students will be able to model innovative concepts at the intersection of design and business.