Collaborative Ideation and Prototyping

This unit builds on problem-framing and user-empathy foundations to teach diverse ideation methods, rapid selection, and low-fidelity prototyping. Students will learn to collect and synthesize user feedback through interviews and online studies, run effective workshops, and set up collaborative processes that accelerate iterative testing and refinement.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze user observations, interview notes, and research data to identify and prioritize target user needs and knowledge gaps
• Apply divergent and convergent ideation techniques (e.g., brainstorming, random-word prompts, lead-user engagement) to generate and rapidly select viable solution concepts
• Demonstrate creation and iterative use of low-fidelity prototypes and workshop activities, and collect valid feedback through interviews and online studies to inform design revisions
• Evaluate team collaboration, communication practices, and task sequencing to organize effective workshops and clarify responsibilities during the prototype and testing phases