Would you like to be innovative in whatever you pursue? Innovation is about solving important and complex problems to create value for the greater good. Innovating through design thinking is a structured, human-centered process for creatively solving problems, which can be adopted by anyone. In this foundational course we will introduce the mindset, process and methods at the core of design thinking. Students will see inspiring case studies, hear from cutting edge practitioners, and work on a project to internalize this learning. Students will discover design thinking is a practical toolkit that helps them reliably innovate in the face of changing social needs, business disruptions, and technology shifts.

Would you like to harness your agency and engineering practice to help solve complex sociotechnical problems? "Innovation Through Engineering Design is about developing skills and practices to work on important and complex problems for the common good. Engineering design involves working through a structured framework and practices to creatively understand, work on, and iterate on problems, which can be learned and practiced by anyone. In this foundational course, we will introduce the framework, mindset, processes, and methods at the core of Engineering Design and Design Thinking. You will see inspiring case studies, practice active reflection on your learning, and work in teams on a variety of projects to internalize this learning.

Together we will consider how engineers and other stakeholders navigate risks related to industrial and environmental disasters, balance financial, technological, and regulatory pressures associated with complex socio-technical problems, and negotiate technical and political liabilities surrounding artificial intelligence, surveillance, and climate adaptation. Engineering systems present pressing technical, ethical, and moral problems that we must grapple with as engaged global citizens. In this course, students will explore the social, cultural, and institutional history of engineering, learn foundational skills in quantitative analysis of real-world engineering designs, and understand the political, environmental, economic, and ethical tradeoffs associated with building the modern world. Students will collaborate on group design projects based on human-centered engineering.