Design Thinking: from Ideas to Action

2023/2024

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

"From Ideas to Action" will teach you how to generate creative ideas and bring those ideas into life so others can engage with your vision for the future. 

The course takes 'design thinking' as a point of departure. We will both read theory on approaching the world as a designer and engage in actual design processes.

At this course, you will gain insights into and practice three skills aimed at bringing ideas to action:

  1. Ideation: We go beyond brainstorming - learn techniques to come up with innovative ideas
  2. Rapid Prototyping: Make your ideas tangible, so you can gather feedback from others
  3. Iterations: Get results faster by developing your idea so that it meets the right needs, is feasible and viable

The background is theories of design that inform the processes in the course. Throughout the course, the student will undergo a design process reflecting on this, so that the student will later be equipped to manage and facilitate creative processes. 

Throughout the course, we work with design challenges that relate to real world issues in groups. 

Learning objectives

Knowledge

Through the module, the student must gain knowledge and understanding of:

  • theories and methods of particular relevance for design and design thinking  

  • scientific issues within design and design thinking 

Skills

The student must through the module acquire skills in:

  • selecting appropriate scientific methods and tools within the area design and design thinking  

  • assessing and choosing between appropriate scientific theories, methods and tools and, on this basis, discussing analysis and/or solution models within design and design thinking 

Competences

The student must through the module acquire competences for:

  • independently applying theoretical and methodological knowledge which is relevant for understanding and solving specific issues within design and design thinking

Type of instruction

Reference is made to §17

Exam

Exams

Name of examDesign Thinking: from Ideas to Action
Type of exam
Written exam
The exam takes form of a given 7-day homework assignment, where the student, based on the module, answers the question(s) within the subject area. The assignment must not exceed 15 pages and must be prepared individually.

The assignment is assessed by the examiner and an internal co-assessor.
ECTS10
Permitted aids
All written and all electronic aids
Assessment7-point grading scale
Type of gradingInternal examination
Criteria of assessmentThe criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Additional information

Electives are updated on our website:

https://www.kdm.aau.dk/studiehaandbog/uddannelsen/kandidat/valgfag/

Facts about the module

Danish titleDesigntænkning: fra idéer til handling
Module codeKAKDMVM2040
Module typeCourse
Duration1 semester
SemesterSpring
KA elective 2. semester
ECTS10
Language of instructionEnglish
Location of the lectureCampus Copenhagen
Responsible for the module

Organisation

Study BoardStudy Board of Communication and Digital Media
DepartmentDepartment of Communication and Psychology
FacultyFaculty of Social Sciences and Humanities