Design Thinking Course Reflection: Weekly Learning and Personal Growth

This document is a reflective journal chronicling a student's experience in a Design Thinking course over twelve weeks. The student details their learning journey, starting with an introduction to entrepreneurship, SMEs, and the importance of innovation. Each week's entry summarizes the activities, including workshops on design theory, design problems, and design research, alongside the student's thoughts, learning outcomes, and self-development plans. The journal covers topics such as interviewing techniques, concept development, product analysis, entrepreneurial marketing, and fundraising. The student reflects on the application of design thinking principles to real-world problems, the importance of customer insights, and the development of critical thinking skills. The journal culminates in a presentation day and a final conclusion, emphasizing the transformative impact of design thinking on the student's approach to problem-solving, creativity, and entrepreneurial mindset. The student highlights the course's role in fostering innovation and decision-making abilities.

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Week 1: Design Thinking
I was extremely excited about my first Design IT class. Our lecturer gave us a brief overview of
the topics that will be taught in this unit. We were taught about the concept of entrepreneurship
and SMEs. After attending this lecture we came to know about the importance of
entrepreneurship. The most interesting part of this lecture was about the concept of innovation
and its different aspects. At the end of the class I was completely aware of the fact that
innovation and entrepreneurship is closely linked and innovation is responsible for increasing the
profit and productivity of an organization.
Week 2: Design Thinking Explained in Details
I found the second week’s lecture to be more interesting. It gave me an insight into the design
thinking model. I came to know that understanding the problem statement plays a critical role in
design thinking. The most appealing part of this lecture was the video regarding IDEO Company
where this company was involved in designing shopping cart. I got a complete idea regarding
collective working, constructive bargaining and other important concepts that play a major role
in design thinking. I can conclude from this lecture that the process of design thinking is
complex and we can get best solution through proper analysis.
Week 3: Workshop on Design Theory
Activity Description

Our activity was to discover whether we have a design mindset. We were asked to give a self
rating on a scale of 1 to 5 on 12 aspects of self attitude like attentiveness, patience and many
more.
Thoughts DURING the activity
I was in a state of dilemma during the process of self rating.
Thoughts AFTER the activity
This activity helped me to understand about my own qualities in an effective manner.
Learning Outcomes
I was able to understand my strengths and weaknesses. It also helped me to understand that I
should maximize my strengths and minimize my weaknesses.
Self Development
I have planned to study different journals and articles of design thinking for enhancing my
strengths and overcoming my weaknesses. I have also decided to join practical classes for self
improvement.
Week 4: Workshop on Design Problems
Activity Description
We had to participate in three activities. The first activity was about making anything with 30
circles. This was the most interesting activity from my perspective.
Thoughts DURING the activity

I was given only 30 seconds for the first activity so I was in a hurry. I tried to be as innovative as
possible.
Thoughts AFTER the activity
I was extremely overwhelmed with my performance and felt that I have learnt a lot about design
thinking.
Learning Outcomes
I have learnt to react and think in a quick manner. My critical thinking skills were enhanced.
Self Development
I can further improve my critical thinking by participating in several activities to solve real life
problems within a small span of time.
Week 5: Workshop on Design Research
Activity Description
I had to participate in 2 activities. I had to plan a hiking trip to Blue Mountain in the first activity
by using mind mapping. In the second activity I had to use mind mapping in higher education
area.
Thoughts DURING the activity
I had faced difficult in arranging the planning process in an effective manner but I was confident
about analyzing the mind mapping concept.
Thoughts AFTER the activity

The idea of journey mapping and mind mapping had become clear.
Learning Outcomes
I have learned the importance of journey mapping in the modern business processes.
Self Development
I will try to plan and divide my regular activities for developing the habit of mapping mind.
Week 6: Interviewing for Design Projects
Activity Description
This week’s activity aimed to give a clear idea about various data collection methods, especially
the interview process. Our activity was to conduct an interview on 2 topics like getting ready in
the morning and before going to bed.
Thoughts DURING the activity
I was very excited and had prepared a questionnaire to conduct a friendly interview.
Thoughts AFTER the activity
I had come to know about the ethical and personal issues that need proper understanding for
implementing an interview process.
Learning Outcomes
I have learned new things regarding conducting a perfect interview and various methods of
collecting data.

Self Development
I have decided to conduct more interviews with friends and colleagues to get a better idea about
this process.
Week 7: Concept Development
Activity Description
We had to participate in an activity for developing concepts by preparing a dessert where we had
to understand the concept of mixing ingredients in such a manner so that it has a perfect taste and
appearance. The next activity was to find a real life problem and solve it.
Thoughts DURING the activity
It was a new experience for me and I was extremely excited about this activity but I had faced
little difficulty because of time limit.
Thoughts AFTER the activity
I felt that I could conceptualize the customer requirements in a better manner.
Learning Outcomes
I have learned to get a proper insight into the customer requirements and the solution of the
design thinking process problem needs to be valuable and scalable.
Self Development
I can develop myself by understanding the major conceptualization areas and the tools of design
thinking.

Week 8: Product Explanation
Activity Description
The 7th week activity was continued in this week. We had to find a solution to a real life problem
like why do people lack motivation to exercise.
Thoughts DURING the activity
The interaction among several groups helped to find out the strengths and weakness of our
product. It was a great experience.
Thoughts AFTER the activity
After the activity was done, I thought that design thinking is unique for every process.
Learning Outcomes
I have learned several ways for analyzing the product for the purpose of investment and the
perspective of the customers.
Self Development
I have decided to solve many other real life issues to clear my concept about design thinking and
my idea about product launch.
Week 9: Entrepreneurial Marketing
Activity Description
The activity of this week was to identify target for a product and about entrepreneurial
marketing.

Thoughts DURING the activity
Initially we thought that it would be very easy to find a target group but later on we realized that
our assumptions were very narrow and it did not help us to find a better customer market.
Thoughts AFTER the activity
We understood the basic approach that is required to be understood for selecting the target group.
Learning Outcomes
I have learned the various factors that will help to identify the target group. I have also learned
about marketing strategies that needs to be implemented for target group.
Self Development
I have decided to enhance my knowledge regarding selecting target groups by reading several
journals and peer reviews.
Week 10: Entrepreneurial Fundraising
We were almost towards the end of the course and I have seriously enjoyed being a part of all the
group activities that have been conducted during the previous weeks. The eye catching event in
this week was the lecture slides as it gave us an idea regarding various ways to raise funds for a
startup business or for a business launch plan. We were given an insight into the various
categories of business models like franchise and auction business models along with proper
examples.

Week 11: Presentation Day
This week’s activity was to present my own idea and concept about design thinking in front of
the class. This week was full of experience. I was little nervous and excited about giving a
formal speech. I had taken the responsibility of presenting the introduction part. After the
completion of our presentation, we got good comments from the listeners. It was a professional
presentation that gave me an experience of being an engineering management student. We were
successful in solving real life problems and explaining this to the class. This activity helped me
to understand that body gestures play a major role in communicating with a group of people.
Week 12: Design Thinking Conclusion
After attending all the classes of design thinking, I can conclude that design thinking is related to
the approach of divergent thinking. Today I feel that every problem can be solved by visualizing
it in a divergent way. Design IT has changed my way of thinking. Whenever I come up with any
issue, I try solving it by the design thinking approach. According to me, all the real life issues
can be solved by this approach. It helped me to understand that in order to become an
entrepreneur one must be creative, innovative and have a good decision making power.