BS4S23 - Design Thinking 01 Feb 2022 - 31 Jan 2029 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: BS4S23
Module Title: Design Thinking
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Leadership and Public Services
Faculty Sub Group: Leadership and Public Services
Module Leader: Liam Collins
Module Team: Simon Read, Benjamin Wheeler
First Intended Intake: FEB 2029 Final Year of Intake: 2029
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100810 - strategic management 100994 - health informatics
HECOS Code Weighting: 80 20

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Feb 2022
Valid To 31 Jan 2029

Module Aims

To enable advanced understanding of the ‘design thinking’ processes and creative methods for complex problem-solving.
Specific aims:
• To develop professional skills in the use of design thinking methods and tools to ‘design the right thing’ and ‘design things right’
• To enable students to develop a design thinking mindset, demonstrating critical intent and personal agency in the application of design thinking.
• To facilitate conceptual, experimental and iterative approaches to the application of design thinking to real-world challenges.
• To provide students with a platform to share insights from different disciplines, bring together multiple stakeholder perspectives and citizen-centered thinking.

Content Summary

Content within this module will develop advanced understanding through:

• Applying a considered methodological approach to: problem setting and framing; identifying opportunities from insights; generating ideas; prototyping concepts; validating and testing outcomes
Within the module students will explore ‘designerly’ approaches to framing and responding to challenges (brief setting, brainstorming, ideation, prototyping etc.), alongside social science derived techniques (empathy mapping, personas, ethnographic interviews etc) and business orientated approaches (value propositions, innovation strategy, business modelling etc).

Through seminar and workshop activities, content within this module will provide opportunities to explore design process where divergent and convergent thinking and iterative experimentation drive innovation in digital transformation.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 8
Seminar 8
Practical classes and workshops 8
Work based learning 8
Independent Study 168
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate an advanced understanding of design thinking process and articulate the role of creative thinking in the direction of innovation projects.
LO2 Apply creative thinking techniques to problem solving with critical reflection in the synthesis of complex (incomplete, contradictory or systemic) areas of knowledge.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio 2 Design notebook showing all stages of the design process including prototypes and iterative changes 0 N/A 70 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio 1 Design notebook showing all stages of the design cycle 0 N/A 30 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Portfolio 2
Portfolio 1

Reading List

Reading will be based on journal articles that reflect contemporary thinking related to the module content. Also, latest editions of the following texts:

Roger, M., 2013. The Design of Business: Why Design Thinking is the Next Competitive Advantage. Boston: Harvard Business Review Press. 658.4063 MAR

Brown, T., and Katz, B., 2009. Change by design: How design thinking transforms organizations and inspires innovation. New York: Harper Business. 658.4063 BRO

Kelley, T., and Kelley, David., 2015. Creative confidence: Unleashing the creative potential within us all. New York: William Collins. 658.314 KEL

Cross, Nigel., 2011. Design Thinking: Understanding How Designers Think and Work. Berg. 745.201

Lidwell, W., Holden, K. & Butler, J., 2010. Universal principles of design : 115 ways to enhance usability, influence perception, increase appeal, make better design decisions, and teach through design Rev. and updated., Gloucester, Mass. : Hove: Rockport ; RotoVision [distributor]. 745.403 LID

Sterling, B., 2005. Shaping things, Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. 745.2 STE