This human-centered concept uses design sensibilities for creating and producing the best product or service. The end-user is the key focus, which means working to anticipate that person’s needs through empathy and with an emphasis on action rather than planning. Creativity, innovation, and collaboration are at the core of this approach. So, too, are ideas—the more the better— while constantly proto-typing, “failing fast,” and refining to read to the best result. Thinking and creating this way helps organizations tackle the complex, rapidly evolving challenges that businesses and other organizations face in today’s world. When problem-solving, the ultimate goal is not analyzing a problem but creating a solution—a solution that makes the most sense to the consumer.

Grand Valley State University lives in the center of a design ecosystem, where creativity and innovation are basic to economic and social growth. The scale and complexity of today’s and future problems require the ability for different disciplines to work together on common problems. Grand Valley has liberal education at the core of our education mission. The Design Thinking Initiative aims to expand opportunities for students to experience and learn the process of design thinking, enhance their employability, and help them further their liberal education. Employers are looking for collaborators and those experienced in design thinking as a creative process.

As a comprehensive institution with more than 200 programs, and with multiple community partners, Grand Valley is ideally situated to host this multidisciplinary, integrative approach and nurture the design thinking ecosystem for the West Michigan community.

Career Benefits

More and more companies are using this philosophy as a core approach to simplifying and humanizing complex business products and services. From the largest global companies to small firms, employees who understand design thinking principles are valued for their innovation and problem-solving. That’s why Design Thinking Academy Fellows have an advantage when seeking employment. Fellows are connected, talented individuals who use design thinking in their fields or who have special complementary skills: + Improvisation + Empathy + Body language + Storytelling + Professional design disciplines.