AEM 4375 - [Advanced Design and Innovation]

(CU-CEL)

Spring. Not offered: 2020-2021. Next offered: 2021-2022. 3 credits. Letter grades only (no audit).

Prerequisite: AEM 3110 or AEM 5110 or relevant coursework/experience. Permission of instructor required. Fulfills Grand Challenges Project requirement.

D. Ramzy.

This engaged learning course applies design strategies to real-world problems in a business context. You’ll act as a business design consultant working directly with a social enterprise client on a set of challenges throughout the semester, applying design tools, theories and overall process to a project that results in a portfolio-ready deliverable. Working in multidisciplinary teams with real deadlines and deliverables, you will use a design toolkit and mindset for creative problem solving. This collaboration will allow you to immerse yourself in a professional setting in which you explore business opportunities; develop innovative concepts; and propose and prototype innovative and entrepreneurial solutions. You’ll tackle issues and challenges such as new product, service or business model development; organizational structure and growth; and external threats and opportunities. This class builds on AEM 3110/AEM 5110, Design and Innovation, and also fulfills the requirement for Dyson’s Grand Challenge project course, AEM 4000.

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.