Designing Environmental Solutions
Course Content
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Lesson 1: Designing for Humans
How do I understand the needs of those involved with my challenge, in order to design solutions they’ll love?
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Introduction ViewActivity1.1
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Designing Environmental Solutions ViewActivity1.2
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Spectrum Activity ViewActivity1.3
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Types of Innovation ViewActivity1.4
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Introduction to Design Thinking ViewActivity1.5
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The design journey in practice: LobsterLift ViewActivity1.6
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Risks & Critiques of Design Thinking ViewActivity1.7
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Who are you designing for? ViewActivity1.8
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Tips for Conducting interviews ViewActivity1.9
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Interviews Regarding Sensitive Topics ViewActivity1.10
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Interview Practice ViewActivity1.11
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Assignment, Part 1: User Research Pack ViewActivity1.12
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Assignment, Part 2: Write a Problem Brief ViewActivity1.13
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Lesson 2: Generating New Ideas
How do I come up with innovative ideas for environmental solutions?
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Introduction ViewActivity2.1
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Where do good ideas come from? ViewActivity2.2
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Brainstorming Done Right ViewActivity2.3
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The rules of brainstorming ViewActivity2.4
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Bad Idea Brainstorm ViewActivity2.5
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Crafting a “How might we” statement ViewActivity2.6
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Try it: Brainstorm ViewActivity2.7
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Other ideation methods and inspiration sources ViewActivity2.8
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Tips for converging ViewActivity2.9
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Lenses for evaluating ideas ViewActivity2.10
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Converge ViewActivity2.11
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Lead a Second Ideation Session ViewActivity2.12
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Lesson 3: Prototyping and Iteration
How do I prototype, test, and iterate an environmental solution?
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Introduction ViewActivity3.1
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Make It ViewActivity3.2
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Crazy 8’s ViewActivity3.3
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Introduction to Prototyping ViewActivity3.4
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Painless Failure ViewActivity3.5
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Types of Early Prototypes ViewActivity3.6
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Build a First Prototype ViewActivity3.7
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Tips for Testing Prototypes ViewActivity3.8
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Prototype Feedback ViewActivity3.9
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Prototyping Roadmap ViewActivity3.10
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Assignment: Prototype Iteration & Capture ViewActivity3.11
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Explore More
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Lesson 1: Additional Resources ViewActivity4.1
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Lesson 1: Extra Resources for Educators ViewActivity4.2
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Lesson 2: Additional Resources ViewActivity4.3
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Lesson 3: Additional Resources ViewActivity4.4
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Lesson 3: Extra Resources for Educators ViewActivity4.5
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General Resources ViewActivity4.6
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Lesson 2: Additional Resources
Tips for leading a brainstorming session: This is a helpful, detailed guide that you can refer to for future brainstorms you lead.
Refer to Anne Manning’s tips on Convergent vs. Divergent Thinking as a reminder of why we need to defer judgement in the first phases of ideation, and set aside a separate session for converging.
Links to other ideation methods and sources of inspiration: here are more details on the ‘other ideation methods’ introduced in class:
- Biomimicry Resources: asknature.org and biomimicry.org offer more examples, exercises, and information.
- Fast Idea Generator
- SCAMPER explanation
- Osborn Checklist
- Mashup (worksheet & video, and Analogous Inspiration Worksheet)
Moonshots! A Game of Radical Thinking amps up the playfulness of your brainstorming.
Why you can’t brainstorm creative ideas is a critique that lends a nuanced view of brainstorming’s shortfalls. As you read, consider: which of these shortfalls are inherent in any brainstorm, and which are the result of poor planning or facilitation?
Sketching: Thinking Visually offers an example of how sketching can help us move from a concept through to a prototype and beyond.
If you’re struggling to decide which idea to pursue, Kevin Hale from Y Combinator shares some tips: How to Evaluate Startup Ideas
The Sprint Book’s “Tuesday” chapter digs deeper into ideation, through the lens of the sprint methodology.