Recent Question/Assignment
Assignment 1: Written Assignment (60% of total)
Title: An exploration of a specific and local problem using the 5W&H model.
Choose one of the United Nations (UN) Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) from the following website URL: https://sdgs.un.org/goals. Then select a specific local news story as a focus to develop the first three aspects of Design Thinking (Include elements of empathy, definition, and ideation).
Summary: You will select and describe one SDG and link it to a range of issues that you are interested in, have read about or are aware of. Next you will take a deep dive into the issues surrounding the SDG (at a local level) using the 5W&H model. Then finally and tentatively, explore some potential ideas that would theoretically help reduce the impact of the problem in your capacity as a Design Thinker.
Rationale: Design Thinkers often use the 5W&1H model to explore complex issues in greater detail. This is an opportunity for you to consider an aspect of sustainability in depth and to understand how Design Thinking may help to provide solutions to “wicked” problems.
Section A: Current State Description (50% of Grade)
• Introduction: Describe the “current state” of your chosen project. Take a deep dive into issues and show how they relate to a single, defined UN SDG. Provide the reader with context for further discussion and potential scope and impact. You should narrow your focus to a local issue(s) in local news media. Guide: We suggest researching in a 50-mile radius of your normal campus or hometown.
• Then: Creatively and thoughtfully explore core issues using the 5W&H as section sub-headings below using materials and theories introduced on the course.
o What needs to be done?
o Where should it be done?
o When does it need to be done?
o Who should do it?
o How should it be done?
o Why does it need to be done?
Hint! - around Coventry UK, maybe housing issue.
Section B. Future State Ideation (50% of Grade)
• What if? Now discuss your ideas for a “future state” solution (Based on Section A). In this section, generate a “rich picture” (in both words and illustration) that illuminates the future state potential of your ideation. Focus on laying out your ambition and the potential of your ideas rather than fine detail. Also, highlight any Design Thinking methods you found useful as you proceed. However, please be mindful to consider genuine viability, rather than simply using a lot of unsupported superlatives to describe potential.
Submission Checklist
• Include (Insert) a front cover with your Student Number, Title, and brief Abstract (You may also add impact with an original image or artwork and a contents list).
• Submit through Turnitin via VLE before the due date.
• Harvard referencing is required for all cited materials and quotes.
o Use in-text citations to show the reader what you have found (include a few different academic sources and materials).
o Provide a list of these references at the end of the report. This should follow Harvard conventions and be presented in alphabetical order.
o Where possible, try to use materials sourced through the Newton Park Library databases (rather than Search Engine hits) and please also avoid paraphrasing large sections of text from single sources.
o Write in your own words and bring a variety of perspectives into your submission.
o Secondary referencing: If you see a citation you want to use but you are unable to find the original work, use the “cited-in” or ‘cited by” convention (see: Secondary referencing on Cite them right).
• Word count: You should submit between 2250 and 2750 words. We will not count abstract words on the front page, contents list or reference list, but everything else (including tables) is included. Please include a WC at the end of each section. We stop marking at 2750, so make sure you don’t go over the word limit. (Exception: Hand written words illustrating graphics are not included – but these should be kept to a minimum, so the marker can concentrate on your gradable content).
• All graphical illustrations must be your original work – Do not copy/paste any illustrations from the internet – Marks may be deducted for using uncited copyright materials.
• Your document will be standard A4 with numbered pages and oriented as portrait (Note: Landscape submissions may be rejected/failed, as they can’t be assessed easily).
o Font: Use a Calibri point size 12 or similar/equivalent. Avoid CAPITALISATION where possible.
• Re-read the brief, make sure you have proofread the document at least twice before submission and look at the marking criteria again. Then proofread again before submission. Good luck!
Title: An exploration of a specific and local problem using the 5W&H model.
Choose one of the United Nations (UN) Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) from the following website URL: https://sdgs.un.org/goals. Then select a specific local news story as a focus to develop the first three aspects of Design Thinking (Include elements of empathy, definition, and ideation).
Summary: You will select and describe one SDG and link it to a range of issues that you are interested in, have read about or are aware of. Next you will take a deep dive into the issues surrounding the SDG (at a local level) using the 5W&H model. Then finally and tentatively, explore some potential ideas that would theoretically help reduce the impact of the problem in your capacity as a Design Thinker.
Rationale: Design Thinkers often use the 5W&1H model to explore complex issues in greater detail. This is an opportunity for you to consider an aspect of sustainability in depth and to understand how Design Thinking may help to provide solutions to “wicked” problems.
Section A: Current State Description (50% of Grade)
• Introduction: Describe the “current state” of your chosen project. Take a deep dive into issues and show how they relate to a single, defined UN SDG. Provide the reader with context for further discussion and potential scope and impact. You should narrow your focus to a local issue(s) in local news media. Guide: We suggest researching in a 50-mile radius of your normal campus or hometown.
• Then: Creatively and thoughtfully explore core issues using the 5W&H as section sub-headings below using materials and theories introduced on the course.
o What needs to be done?
o Where should it be done?
o When does it need to be done?
o Who should do it?
o How should it be done?
o Why does it need to be done?
Hint! - around Coventry UK, maybe housing issue.
Section B. Future State Ideation (50% of Grade)
• What if? Now discuss your ideas for a “future state” solution (Based on Section A). In this section, generate a “rich picture” (in both words and illustration) that illuminates the future state potential of your ideation. Focus on laying out your ambition and the potential of your ideas rather than fine detail. Also, highlight any Design Thinking methods you found useful as you proceed. However, please be mindful to consider genuine viability, rather than simply using a lot of unsupported superlatives to describe potential.
Submission Checklist
• Include (Insert) a front cover with your Student Number, Title, and brief Abstract (You may also add impact with an original image or artwork and a contents list).
• Submit through Turnitin via VLE before the due date.
• Harvard referencing is required for all cited materials and quotes.
o Use in-text citations to show the reader what you have found (include a few different academic sources and materials).
o Provide a list of these references at the end of the report. This should follow Harvard conventions and be presented in alphabetical order.
o Where possible, try to use materials sourced through the Newton Park Library databases (rather than Search Engine hits) and please also avoid paraphrasing large sections of text from single sources.
o Write in your own words and bring a variety of perspectives into your submission.
o Secondary referencing: If you see a citation you want to use but you are unable to find the original work, use the “cited-in” or ‘cited by” convention (see: Secondary referencing on Cite them right).
• Word count: You should submit between 2250 and 2750 words. We will not count abstract words on the front page, contents list or reference list, but everything else (including tables) is included. Please include a WC at the end of each section. We stop marking at 2750, so make sure you don’t go over the word limit. (Exception: Hand written words illustrating graphics are not included – but these should be kept to a minimum, so the marker can concentrate on your gradable content).
• All graphical illustrations must be your original work – Do not copy/paste any illustrations from the internet – Marks may be deducted for using uncited copyright materials.
• Your document will be standard A4 with numbered pages and oriented as portrait (Note: Landscape submissions may be rejected/failed, as they can’t be assessed easily).
o Font: Use a Calibri point size 12 or similar/equivalent. Avoid CAPITALISATION where possible.
• Re-read the brief, make sure you have proofread the document at least twice before submission and look at the marking criteria again. Then proofread again before submission. Good luck!