BETTER INNOVATION BY DESIGN? CAN A COLLABORATIVE CROSS-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH ASSIST A PARADIGM SHIFT IN EDUCATION PRACTICE?
Year: 2016
Editor: Erik Bohemia, Ahmed Kovacevic, Lyndon Buck, Christian Tollestrup, Kaare Eriksen, Nis Ovesen
Author: McElheron, Paul; Pilgaard Harsaae, Malene
Series: E&PDE
Institution: Assistant Professors - Via Design & AU
Section: Preparing Students for Cross-dsciplinarity
Page(s): 493-498
ISBN: 978-1-904670-62-9
Abstract
This paper is a case study aimed at exploring the cross-disciplinary synergy between design thinking
and product engineering. Teams of Bachelor of Engineering students were given a product engineering
innovation challenge and asked to solve it using a design thinking methodology. The results were
compared to similar groups who did not make use of design thinking. The questions were: would
design thinking assist in the development of innovative product design solutions and if it does – how
& why? What are students really thinking & doing when engaged in creative product design innovation?
The results indicate that the processes, practices and persona inherent in design thinking do indeed
facilitate innovative product design.
Keywords: Design thinking, innovation, strategic design practice, product engineering, education.