MODULE CODE: BS7708 LEVEL: 7 CREDITS: 30
TITLE: DESIGN THINKING FOR START-UPS
PRE-REQUISITES: NONE CO-REQUISITES: NONE
| Module Leader | Alice Comi |
| Course Directors | Janja Song (MA Creative Economy) |
| Pauline Parker (MSc IME) | |
| Administrator | Jack Mitchell |
MODULE SUMMARY (INDICATIVE)
This module aims to give students the knowledge and understanding of creative and business behaviours necessary for developing a product/service and establishing an innovative multidisciplinary business enterprise. Students will work in teams to set up a business. Business mentors will be available to coach the teams.
AIMS (DEFINITIVE)
- To critically evaluate and apply design thinking practices into new enterprise ventures
- To gain first-hand experience of managing and developing a start-up business through multidisciplinary collaboration including management and leadership theories in the context of the creative economy.
- To develop a professional presence through social media
- To critically reflect and apply the entrepreneurial and social media skills learnt through the venture to future career goals including creative and innovative individual leading capabilities
LEARNING OUTCOMES (DEFINITIVE)
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
- Develop a product or service to meet identified user needs through effective design thinking methods
- Write a comprehensive business plan for a creative start up and pitch it to potential investors
- Critically assess the role of social media and networking in the business and learning experience
- Assess and identify the behaviours, skills and conditions required for leadership within thecraetive industries
- Reflect on the entrepreneurial and leadership skills needed for a successful venture in the Creative Economy
CURRICULUM CONTENT (INDICATIVE)
- Human Centred Design and Design Thinking in Entrepreneurship
- Managing and Creating Social Capital through Social Media
- Critical evaluation of leadership theories
- Business Plan Development
- How leadership and management are conceptualised in the creative industries
- Determining Feasibility and Costing
- Product/Service Development through Prototyping
- E-Commerce and Marketing
- Branding and Advertising Design
TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGY (INDICATIVE)
The teaching strategy adopted will encourage students to adopt a critical and reflective approach to course content. This will be achieved through the use of a variety of resources including tutor’s lectures, professionals’ lectures, teamwork, group presentations, blogs, discussions and the student’s running of their own enterprise.
It is expected that students will spend most of their time outside of class working with their business partners to develop and make their enterprise a success over a period of seven months. This will require teams to effectively manage their time and determine a meeting schedule that takes differing student schedules into account. These businesses will be self-funded ventures, with the University funding the costs of liability insurance and registration as a Limited Liability company under the Young Enterprise scheme.
BREAKDOWN OF TEACHING AND LEARNING HOURS
| DEFINITIVE KIS CATEGORY | INDICATIVE DESCRIPTION | HOURS |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | A combination of lectures, workshops, tutorials, field work and lab sessions | 66 |
| Guided independent study | student independent study | 234 |
| Total
(number of credits x 10) |
300 |
ASSESSMENT STRATEGY (INDICATIVE)
Summative assessment is through a portfolio: a group business report and final presentation to a panel of professionals worth 60%, a social media and networking report (10 %) and a self-reflective essay based on posts on students’ blogs during the year (30 %).
A range of formative assessments undertaken both in class and during independent study provide regular and detailed feedback to students so that they can develop their ideas for a creative business using design thinking and take them confidently to the market.
MAPPING OF LEARNING OUTCOMES TO ASSESSMENT STRATEGY (INDICATIVE)
| LEARNING OUTCOMES
On completion of the module, students will be able to: |
ASSESSMENT STRATEGY |
| Develop product(s) or service(s) to meet identified user needs through effective design thinking methods | Formative assessment through meeting with mentors and lecturer (Teaching Blocks 1 and 2) |
| Write a comprehensive business plan for a creative startup and pitch it to investors | Group Business Report(s) & Presentation(s) (Teaching Block 1 & 2) |
| Critically assess the role of social media and networking in the business and learning experience | Social Media & Networking Report (Teaching Block 2) |
| Reflect on the entrepreneurial skills needed for a successful venture in the Creative Economy | Reflective Blog and Essay
(Teaching Block 1 and 2) |
BREAKDOWN OF MAJOR CATEGORIES OF ASSESSMENT (DEFINITIVE)
| DEFINITIVE KIS CATEGORY | INDICATIVE DESCRIPTION | PERCENTAGE |
| Coursework | Portfolio | 100% |
ACHIEVING A PASS (DEFINITIVE)
It is a requirement that the major category of assessment is passed in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
BIBLIOGRAPHY (INDICATIVE):
Brown, Tim. (2009) Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation. HarperBusiness.
Fraser, H., (2012), Design Works, University of Toronto Press, London
Martin, R., ed., (2013), Rotman on Design, University of Toronto Press, London
Martin, Roger (2009) The Design of Business: Why Design thinking is the Next Competitve Advantage. Harvard Business School Press.
Martin, Roger (2007) The Opposable Mind: How successful Leaders Win Through Integrative Thinking. Harvard Business School Press.
Montgomery, C., (2013), Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design, Double Day, London
Stickdorn, M., & Schneider, J., (2011), This is Service Design Thinking, BIS Books, Amsterdam
Stokes, D. and Wilson, N. (2006) Small Business Management & Entrepreneurship, Thomson, London.
Visocky O’Grady, Jenn & Ken (2006/2009) A Designer’s Research Manual: Succeed in Design by Knowing Your Clients and What They Really Need. Rockport Publishers.
Online resources:
Design Management Institute
d.school
UK Design Council
YE materials:
