design and innovation in business.
Nottingham Trent University | Global Summer School
2024
For the third year running, I co-developed a two-week summer school with Kathryn Pashley, created for non-design students from disciplines like business, marketing, and law. Once again, they stepped into unfamiliar territory—sketching, prototyping, and creatively exploring problems—and once again, they absolutely rose to the challenge. The goal remains simple: to show that design thinking is a powerful tool beyond the studio. We offered an accessible, hands-on experience that introduced students to design fundamentals and how these skills can drive innovation in any field. Week one covered the essentials—sketch ideation, physical model making, and framing opportunities for creative problem-solving. We also continued integrating generative AI into the process, giving students a chance to experiment with tools that sparked new levels of exploration and expression.
In week two, student teams tackled real-world challenges shaped by global trends, applying their new skills in fast-paced, collaborative design sprints. The outcomes were clever, considered, and often surprising. We’ve built this programme to grow confidence and creative capability step by step. Even for students who won’t become designers, the impact is lasting—they leave with a deeper understanding of design’s role, and how to collaborate with creative thinkers in future careers.
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