Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre
Design Thinking Workshop
Design Challenge
1. Overview
Integrated throughout this workshop are a series of design challenge activities that correspond to the 5 stages of the Design Thinking Process.
These activities align to the following Learning Outcomes:
1. Explain the steps in the Design Thinking Methodology
2. Develop solutions using the Design Thinking Methodology
3. Test the societal desirability and intended impact of an idea using Design Thinking
1.1. Due Date
The due date for these activities will be determined by your organizer of the workshop.
1.2. Grading
The grading for these activities will be determined by your organizer of the workshop.
2. Instructions
Design Challenge: Empathy Activity
This activity recreates the activity of observing user behaviour through employing the principles of empathy to analyze the daily lives of users. Tour locations in the workshop module and take notes on your observations – remember, we are simply asking what not why at this stage – avoid interpreting what you see. Use the worksheet below to record your observations. You should spend approximately 15-20 minutes on this activity.
Design Challenge: Create Your Own Problem Statement
Spend 10 minutes writing your own problem statement based on the design challenge. Once you have done this answer the following questions.
• What is it about your problem statement that makes you feel it is appropriately usercentred?
• What makes you think your problem statement is broad enough?
• What makes you think your problem statement is narrow enough?
Use the worksheet below to record your observations. You should spend approximately 15 minutes on this activity.
Design Challenge: Idea Generation
In this exercise you will have 3 minutes to generate as many ideas as possible based on the 'how might we' statement that is provided. Grab a pen and a stack of sticky notes or a piece of paper and start the timer!
“How might we help users access the information they need to make sustainable decisions?”
When you are done assess your ideas and pick your top 3. Use the worksheet below to record your ideas.
Then select your top idea by using the following criteria:
1) Is it relevant to the design challenge of reducing personal utilities consumption?
2) Is it connected to the needs of your users?
3) Is it inspiring? Are you excited about it?
You should spend approximately 10 minutes on this activity.
Design Challenge: Create Your Own Storyboard
In this exercise you will draw your own storyboard on paper. Take a photo with your phone and insert a picture of storyboard below, or upload it separately along with the other deliverables.
You should spend approximately 15-20 minutes on this activity. Use the space below to include your storyboard, or upload to the Course Management System. Remember, we are not looking for artistic pieces – stick figures are okay!
Design Challenge: Plan Your Test
In this exercise your will take your idea and identify your key assumptions, before designing a test that fits within certain parameters. Use the worksheet below to record your observations.
You should spend approximately 15-20 minutes on this activity.

Design Challenge (Define)
Enter your Problem Statement:
• What is it about your problem statement that makes you feel it is appropriately usercentred?
• What makes you think your problem statement is broad enough?
• What makes you think your problem statement is narrow enough?
Design Challenge (Ideate)
Enter your top three ideas:
1.
2.
3.
Then select your top idea by using the following criteria:
• Is it relevant to the design challenge of reducing personal utilities consumption?
• Is it connected to the needs of your users? • Is it inspiring? Are you excited about it?
Enter your top idea:
Design Challenge (Prototype)
Insert a picture of storyboard or upload it separately.
Design Challenge (Test)
Idea description:
Assumptions:
Think about:
• What are you asking of your user?
• What behaviour change are your relying upon?
Budget:
Description of test:
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