Activities about Understanding Design

What Counts as Design?

In “What Counts as Design?” students will have an introduction to the concept of design as a broad, multidisciplinary, and ultimately common action in their everyday lives. From creating a playlist, to developing a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, to planning a UX mobile prototype, design happens everywhere.

Subject area: Understanding design
Activity types: Affinity grouping, Brainstorming, Discussion

Many Models of Design

In “Many Models of Design” students explore “How do you design?: A Compendium of Design Models” by Hugh Dubberly. The Dubberly Compendium is an amazing resource that compiles over one hundred design process models. Through their exploration, students are introduced to the idea that design is plural, not monolithic. 

Subject area: Understanding design, Data visualization, Design process, Reflection
Activity type: Discussion

Art and Perspective

In “Art and Perspective” students find and share art pieces that reflect the concept of “perspective”. Perspective is an important part of design. Designers and engineers focus on multiple users and stakeholders’ perspectives, and take into account the context of the space they’re in.

Subject Area: Understanding design, Design awareness, Reflection
Activity Type: Brainstorming