Design Thinking is a problem-solving framework introduced by the Stanford University Design School, known as d.school. Stanford d.school believes “Everyone has the capacity to be creative” and we do too. The Multimedia Communications program follows the Design Thinking methodology to equip students with creative problem-solving skills.

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The Design Thinking Process has a series of steps: 

• Empathize: getting to know your customer or target audience 

• Define: understanding the problem that needs solving 

• Ideate: generating ideas to solve the problem 

• Prototype: create a draft of the solution for feedback 

• Test: collect feedback about the prototype and adjust draft as needed 

• Final delivery of the solution 

 

We apply this methodology in Multimedia by assigning projects that align with real-world work and real-life problems. Students are asked to define their target audience and explain the strategies their media uses to reach that particular group of people. Further, students are required to develop concept work for all projects and they receive feedback throughout the project to help make their work more successful.  

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Multimedia students are first exposed to Design Thinking with the freshmen exploratory experience and other short-term projects that involve planning before execution. In sophomore and junior year, they apply the process to more complicated and demanding projects like the boardgame design project, social media campaign, stop-motion animation, and various video projects. Juniors also complete a design thinking project called “Welcome Freshmen,” which requires them to design an experience for new freshmen assigned to our program. Finally, in senior year, students complete a capstone project, which allows them to create industry-standard work for a real client in the community. For more details on how the Design Thinking Process applies to specific projects, visit our blog at bvtmultimedia.blogspot.com.