Context Research for Innovation

This course brings design thinking into conversation with anthropological research methods, examining the elements of a comprehensive perspective of context. It introduces students to design research methods, ethnographic methods, and how they work together. Students will learn how to use these methods to identify and engage in 'deep hanging out' with the problem, gap or inefficiency in question. They will then move on to patient, contextualized opportunity identification for meaningful innovation. By the end of the course, students will have developed a process for effective context analysis. This course is relevant for designers of products, services, organizations, and experiences. Enrollment limited to 40.