L T P C
Subject Code Design Thinking
4 0 0 4
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course teaches design thinking as a way to solve problems by focusing on people’s
needs in technology and AI.
Students will learn the main steps of design thinking: empathize, define, ideate, prototype,
and test, using methods from Stanford [Link] and IDEO.
The course helps students understand users, come up with ideas, build models, and improve
solutions through testing.
Students will work on case studies, fieldwork, and group projects to apply design thinking in
computing and AI.
The course builds skills in teamwork, communication, and ethics for creating software and
AI solutions.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Understand design thinking as a problem-solving approach in technology and AI.
Learn tools and frameworks for human-centred design.
Apply design thinking to create innovative solutions for real-world challenges.
Develop empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing skills.
Foster teamwork and communication in design projects.
Course Outcomes (COs)
At the end of this course, the student will be able to
CO 1 Explain core principles and stages of design thinking.
CO 2 Apply empathy and user research to define meaningful problems.
CO 3 Generate creative solutions using ideation techniques.
CO 4 Build and evaluate low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes.
CO 5 Implement design thinking in AI/computing applications.
CO 6 Work collaboratively to address complex problems innovatively.
Programme Specific
Programme Outcomes (POs)
COs Outcomes (PSOs)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3
1 3 2 1 - - - - - - - - 2 3 2 -
2 3 3 2 2 - - - 1 2 2 1 2 3 3 -
3 3 3 3 3 2 - - 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 2
4 2 2 3 3 2 2 - 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 3
5 3 2 3 3 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3
UNIT I: Introduction to Design Thinking Hrs 12
Evolution Of Design Thinking – Rolf Faste’s Contributions, What Is Design Thinking – Importance
In Computer Science And AI, Design Mind-Set Vs. Engineering Mind Set, Tim Brown’s View –
Design As Change Agent, Design Thinking Frameworks – Stanford [Link], IDEO, Activity –
Case Study Discussion On Design-Led Innovation.
Hrs 12
UNIT II: Empathize: Human-Centred Design
Role Of Empathy In Design – Faste’s Empathy Methods, Observation, Immersion, User Interviews, Journey
Maps, Personas, Empathy Maps, Ethics And Responsibility In User Research, Activity – Conduct Empathy
Fieldwork For An AI/CS-Related Problem.
UNIT III: Define and Ideate Hrs 12
Crafting Problem Statements – POV, How Might We, Understanding Needs And Insights – Faste’s
Framing Methods, Ideation Tools – Brainstorming, SCAMPER, Mind Maps, and Collaboration And
Divergent/Convergent Thinking – Tim Brown’s View, and Activity – Group Ideation Session With
Idea Clustering.
UNIT IV – Prototype Hrs 12
Prototyping As Mindset – Fail Fast, Learn Fast, Types Of Prototypes – Paper, Digital, Service
Blueprints, Tools – Figma, Paper Sketches, Simple Code, Building Minimal Viable Prototypes,
Activity – Create And Present Initial Prototypes For Peer Feedback.
UNIT V – Test and Iterate Hrs 12
Testing Techniques – Usability Tests, A/B Tests, Feedback Loops, Iterative Refinement Based On
User Input, Stories Of Iteration – Tim Brown’s Change By Design, Reflection And Documentation
Of Learning, Activity – Conduct Usability Tests And Present Iteration Plan.
TOTAL 30/45/60 hrs
TEXT BOOK:
1. Rolf Faste, Design Thinking: Understanding How Designers Think and Work, Springer.
2. Tim Brown, Change by Design, Harvard Business Review Press.
REFERENCES
David Kelley & Tom Kelley, Creative Confidence, Crown Publishing.
Jeanne Liedtka, Design Thinking for the Greater Good, Columbia Business School.
Nigel Cross, Design Thinking: Understanding How Designers Think and Work, Berg
Publishers.
E-RESOURCES
IDEO U: [Link]
Stanford [Link]: [Link]
Interaction Design Foundation (IDF): [Link]
