Programs | One Year Immersive | Quarter 3 | IDSE 303

Studio: Proof of Concept

IDSE 303
Studio: Proof of Concept

Course Overview

In this course students will use the knowledge and insights created in Quarter 2 to fuel continued synthesis, rapid ideation, and prototyping in order to identify a single solution concept that can be piloted in Quarter 4.

Outcomes and Competencies

The following outcome statements articulate the competencies, abilities, and skills a student will have as a result of completing this class. Upon completing this course, students will:

  • Be able to illustrate, through prototypes, sketches, and presentation materials, a cohesive design idea for a particular large-scale social and humanitarian problem.

  • Be able to scale back that design to a small form for prototyping and testing.

  • Be able to describe and rationalize the particular design decisions that have led to the development of the design vision.

  • Be able to effectively communicate regular progress towards clarity and definition in the midst of an ambiguous problem space.

Course Schedule

Week 1

Frame to Spark

Before Class

  • Iterate insights & opportunity areas from Q2

  • Read and create Problem Trees

  • Read Semantic & Temporal Zoom

In Class

  • Review Syllabus

  • Talk: The Design Process

  • Facilitated Session

  • Assignment: Problem Trees & Zooms

Class 2

Rapid Ideation

Before Class

  • Generate 200 post-it ideas

    • Read: Insight Combination

    • Read: Reframing

  • Categorize & organize ideas

  • Establish decision criteria

In Class

  • Team Share-Outs

  • Talk: Me, Me, Me Universe

  • Work Session

Class 3

Multi-track concepts

Before Class

  • Select 3 ideas for more development

  • For each concept make:

    • Storyboards or Vignettes

    • High-level Pitch & Value Prop

    • Need Narrative

  • Test storyboards with 5 people

In Class

  • Team Share-Outs

  • Feedback from invited mentors

  • Working Session

Class 4

Get to Top Concept

Before Class

  • Down select to 2 concepts for further development

  • Test both concepts with 5 people

  • Create Theory of Change

  • By the end of the week, select top concept

In Class

  • Team Share-Outs

  • Working Session

Class 5

Prototype + Midway Presentations

Before Class

  • Expand concept into a lo-fi prototype

  • Assignment: Midway Presentation

In Class

  • Team Share-Outs

  • Working Session

Class 6

Iterate Prototype

Before Class

  • Refine prototype based on feedback

  • Test with 5 more people

  • Assignment: Service Blueprint

In Class

  • Team Share-Outs

  • Feedback from invited mentors

  • Design Charrette

Class 7

Iterate Prototype

Before Class

  • Refine prototype based on feedback

  • Create & launch a landing page

In Class

  • Team Share-Outs

  • Midway Presentation

  • Working Session

Class 8

Final Presentation

Before Class

  • Prepare presentation

  • Update key artifacts & consolidate for Q4 transition

  • Assignment: Final Presentation

In Class

  • Retro: Celebration & Lessons Learned

  • Final Presentations

Ready to Launch Your Design Career?

Transform your creative aspirations into reality as you learn from experienced professionals at the Austin Center for Design. Dive into hands-on projects, receive personalized feedback, and develop a solid foundation that will kickstart your design career.