How can the public and non-profit sector respond to society's problems with innovative solutions?
What does it take for the creativity in all of us to emerge in a participatory, engaging process?
How can we ensure that the solutions are relevant, co-created by and are meaningful to those that are using it and are impacted by it?
How can we make these solutions sustainable and flexible enough to adapt to changing needs?
PA5190 Design Thinking for Public Affairs is a course that provides you the space and opportunity to explore these questions and paradigms that may get us closer to the answers. The course is guided by the human-centered design approach to problem solving, commonly known as design thinking. Using this approach in the public and non-profit sector requires nuanced understanding of its fit and relevance. When done well, a human-centered design approach creates the space for authentic engagement in problem-solving, thus building and sustaining key relationships, resulting in solutions that are people-driven, adaptive, and meaningful.
This course is an intensive deep dive into the intersection of human-centered design and the need for innovative, sustainable solutions in the public and non-profit sector. This course will be interactive and immersive. By choosing to be in this course, you will be a participant, and not an observer. You can expect case studies and practical examples, and the opportunity to apply the human-centered design approach to a real-world project.
Selected topics. prereq: Grad student or instr consent. Student may contact the instructor or department for information.