Modul

The assessment is carried out as a general exam (according to Section 4(2), 3 of the examination regulation). The overall grade of the module is the grade of the examination (according to Section 4(2), 3 of the examination regulation).

Students

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the globally recognized innovation approach “Design Thinking” as introduced and promoted by the Stanford University
• Apply the learned approach in the context of a real innovation project provided by a partner organization
• Conceive new, creative solutions through extensive need finding of relevant service users
  Develop prototypes early and independently, test them and improve them iteratively to solve the challenge provided by the partner organization
• Communicate, present and network in interdisciplinary and international environments.

None

Course phases (roughly 4 weeks each):

Design Space Exploration:

• Exploring the problem space by questioning the given innovation challenge from practice.
• Familiarization with the topic area of the respective challenge. 
• Gathering first impressions of the requirements and needs of people related to the problem.

Critical Function Prototype:

• Building an intensive understanding of the needs of the target group of the respective challenge.
• Deriving critical functions from the customer's perspective that could help solve the overall problem.
• Building prototypes for the critical functions and testing them in real customer situations.

Dark Horse Prototype:

• Reversal of assumptions and experiences made so far. The goal is to develop radically new and unconventional ideas.
• Implementation of the ideas into simple prototypes and subsequent testing.

Funky Prototype:

• Integration of the individual successfully tested functions from the critical function and dark horse phase into solution concepts. These are also tested and further developed.

Functional Prototype:

• Selection of successful funky prototypes and development of these towards high-resolution prototypes. The final solution approach for the project is written down in detail and feedback is obtained.

Final Prototype:

• Implementing the final prototype and presenting it to the practical partner as well as the SUGAR Network.

This course is held in English – proficiency in writing and communication is required.

Our past students recommend to take this course at the beginning of the masters program.

The workload for this module is approx. 2 days per week over a period of 9 months. The workload for this practical module is therefore comparatively high. The reason for this is that the participants work in international teams with students from other universities and partner organizations and solve real innovation challenges.

The workload of approx. 270 hours is spread over approx. 105 hours (3.5 CP) in the first semester and 165 hours (5.5 CP) in the second semester.