Design Thinking Arrives in Fargo
Design thinking is a solutions-based approach to solve problems, used by companies like Apple and AirBnb. It has been hailed by Harvard Business Review as a new way to organize work that will “unleash people’s full creative energies.” This Thursday, design thinking arrives in Fargo.
David Cronrath, the Wold lecturer, will give a one-hour workshop on design thinking at 3 p.m. on February 14th in Barry Hall 118. This high-energy and hands-on session is perfect for industry leaders, professors and students interested in creativity, innovation and strategy.
Personally, I’m thrilled to bring this concept to NDSU. In my Intro to Entrepreneurship class I’m doing my best to expose the students to design thinking, hopefully without them even realizing it initially. As I’ve reflected on the skills a student studying entrepreneurship should develop, it’s been narrowed to one simple concept: empathy.
Justin Wilcox first turned my gaze towards this North Star. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like the easy, and correct answer (Occam FTW!). An entrepreneur empathizes, or at least, sympathizes, with their customer’s problem. If they feel the pain their customer feels, their solution will be much more likely to work.
The great thing about focusing on empathy as a skill, is that it is an essential ability for all students. When they enter the workforce, they will be more likely to be successful if they can empathize with their co-workers and customers. If they decide to start their own venture, empathy will help them find their audience, iterate their product or service and create the change they want to see in the world.
Design thinking, at its heart, is all about empathy. In fact, it’s the first step on the design thinking path of: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test and launch.
We can’t create solutions if we can empathize. Empathy is beginning of an entrepreneurial education, and design thinking.
Empathy is beginning of an entrepreneurial education, and design thinking.
If you want to get started honing this essential skill, you’re in luck. Thursday at 3 p.m. in Barry Hall 118, we will share a deep-dive into design thinking and how it can help you unleash your creativity. You won’t want to miss it.
