Background

When we hear the word “design,” we often think about a product: the features of a technology, the look of a space, the integrity of a structure. But design also refers to a process that can be used by teams to solve deeply complex, real-world problems. And because the design process (sometimes called design thinking or a variation referred to as human-centered design) asks us to learn and demonstrate essential 21st-century skills – like collaborating with stakeholders, communicating across media, analyzing data and iterating forward, thinking boldly and creatively in the face of uncertainty – more people are starting to think about how a design mindset can be integrated into educational contexts.

Project Description

This Bass Connections project offers students a rare opportunity to help ideate and build design experiences at Duke. Students will gain content knowledge about design thinking and human-centered design, plan and execute a one-day design learning summit, build educational resources for use at Duke and beyond and help design Duke’s new Design+ Durham program. Given Duke’s commitment to interdisciplinary thinking and inclusive action, the team will build a design framework that is dedicated to an open ethos, to a design process that values and promotes access to information, inclusion, diversity, transparency and meritocracy and to collaboration and community. We call this brand of design “open design.”

Anticipated Outputs

Literature review and landscape report; open educational resources about open design for use by anyone within or beyond Duke

Student Opportunities

Ideally, this project will comprise 2-3 graduate students and 3-4 undergraduate students. Applications are welcome from all majors and disciplines. Of particular interest are students from the following disciplines: visual and media studies (graphic design, UI/UX), cultural anthropology (ethnographies), computer science and electrical and computer engineering (development cycles, agile methodologies), education (designing learning resources), innovation and entrepreneurship (innovation cycles, lean methodologies), documentary studies (storytelling), and humanities such as history, philosophy, or English (strong writing and critical thinking). Students should also understand, or be open to understanding, a growth mindset.

  • This team is seeking two undergraduate researchers to begin work in Summer 2019. Students will work part-time and may work remotely. Summer researchers will begin a literature review of prevailing human-centered design and open design theories and will create a landscape report of university offerings and other educational resources from industry, government and nonprofits. Interested students should apply as soon as possible; materials will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Timing

Summer 2019 – Summer 2020

  • Summer 2019 (optional): Research: Small research team conducts literature review of prevailing theories and a landscape report of university offerings and other educational resources from industry, government and nonprofits
  • Fall 2019: Learn, Listen, Design: Students gain basic content knowledge about theories of design thinking and human-centered design and what educational resources are currently available; team plans and executes one-day design summit; team begins designing both educational resources about design thinking and human-centered design as well as Design+ Durham program
  • Spring 2020: Build: Team builds educational resources about design thinking and human-centered design for use at Duke and beyond
  • Summer 2020 (optional): Launch of Design+ Durham (open to all Duke students by application)

Crediting

Independent study credit available for fall and spring semesters; summer funding

Apply Now

Students can apply using our online application.