This document discusses using design thinking methods to teach an interdisciplinary concept creation process. It describes a program called Oamk Labs that brings together undergraduate and professional students from different fields and cultures. The goal is to develop self-aware professionals who can create new solutions by recognizing their own skills and those of other professionals. The document outlines how Oamk Labs uses a funnel process moving from problems to concepts to demonstrations to business models. It also examines how to map the Oamk Labs funnel to the design thinking process and discusses benefits of collaboration between disciplines using a user-focused approach.

1. Design Thinking in Teaching:
Product Concept Creation in
the Devlab Program
Janne Karjalainen
oamklabs.fi

2. The task
How to run an
interdisciplinary
concept creation
process for
undergraduates and
professionals from
different fields and
cultures?

3. Interdisciplinary co-creation

4. Design thinking
Tim Brown
Tom Kelley
David Kelley
IDEO
DesignKit
D.school
Problem Solution

5. Oamk LABs
Project based learning, full-time studies
30 ects per semester, 1-2 semesters
Based on Studio pedagogy and the reflective
practitioner
LAB Studio Model developed at Oamk

6. Three labs currently

7. What is Oulu DevLAB
Multiple project topics: health and social care, tourism, energy
and environment, green care, sustainability
Diverse students: 12 countries, 11 degree programs
The goal: self-aware professionals who are able to develop
new solutions and recognize their own skills as well as the
skills needed from professionals from other fields.

8. Concept creation

9. Concept development at LABs
Real-world problems or phenomena
Research and challenge the problem statement
Look for business opportunities
Initially for creating games for yourself -> more
general structure was needed

10. Oamk LABs Funnel
GATE2
GATE1
Problems to concepts to demos to business models

11. What is it to be a designer?
Can a physiotherapy student be a designer?
Should they be? What would they design?
Design is ‘the transformation of existing
conditions into preferred ones’ (Simon 1996)

12. How to map
Oamk LABs funnel with the
Design Thinking process
Gate definitions
Evaluating across
industries
For profit vs nonprofit
or societal concepts

13. Spring 2016
Problem Solution
GATE2
GATE1
Problem Solution

14. Fall 2016
Problem Solution
GATE2
GATE1

15. Design Thinking benefits
Collaboration between disciplines
Mostly unknown for all students, for good and
bad
User as the common frame of reference
User language as the common language

16. Further development
Fostering Creative confidence
Culture of critique and feedback
Analytical thinking, logical levels
Courage to prototype, interact with users
Breaking tasks to smaller, small successes first

17. Future directions for study
Evaluating the methods
Effects on creativity
Existing practices in teaching design thinking
Suggestions?

18. Oamk Labs
Self-aware future
professionals with a
positive attitude to
innovation and
entrepreneurship

19. From Concept to
Demo and Business plan
Lean startup
BUILD - MEASURE - LEARN
cycles
Carrying on the prototyping
mindset