2.S997: A Look into Design and Designing

Spring | Graduate | 6 Units | Prereq: None
Lecture T4-5:30| Room 3-433

In this seminar we will explore the meanings of design and the ways that scholars think about and study design.  We will begin with Herb Simon’s assertion that “Schools of engineering, as well as schools of architecture, business, education, law, and medicine, are all centrally concerned with the process of design.”  From there we will look into what constitutes a process of design and what the literature has to say about such processes.  Our review will include a look into design thinking, human centered design, and the ways that the study of design is evolving.   The course will require some reading.  Grading will be based on participation and contributions to a final project.

Students looking for a 12-unit design experience might consider complementing this class by enrolling for six more units in John Hauser’s 15.821, Listening to the Customer.  This class offers a deep dive into ways of identifying customer needs.