The document discusses utilizing design thinking to help address the future of the community of Waukon, Iowa. It provides background information on Waukon, including that its population has been decreasing over the last ten years to less than 4,000 people currently. It notes that Waukon has historically been an agricultural community but is looking to position its future. It also describes Waukon's scenic setting and amenities, as well as characteristics of its population and economy, including a loss of retail dollars and empty retail spaces downtown. A multidisciplinary group will use the 7 steps of design thinking - accept situation, analyze, define, ideate, select, implement, evaluate - to create a process to help plan for Wau

1. Design Process: your key to creative problem solving
What’s for
dinner
Engaging with Waukon
Accept Situation
Analyze
Define
Ideate
Select
Implement
Evaluate
Waving Our Magic Wands: Harnessing the Power of Design Thinking
Bates+Erickson Iowa State University
Upper Midwest Civic Engagement Summit 2014

2. Credit: Universal Traveler, Koberg and Bagnall, 1976.
Waving Our Magic Wands: Harnessing the Power of Design Thinking
Bates+Erickson Iowa State University
Upper Midwest Civic Engagement Summit 2014

3. “Waving our Magic Wands: Harnessing the Power of Design Thinking”
The Waukon, Iowa community has come to you to help address their future. Working in a
multidisciplinary group, utilize your own discipline and use the 7 steps discussed today to create
a process specific for the community of Waukon.
The City of Waukon, Iowa
Background:
• Waukon is the county seat located in Allamakee County
o Located 17 miles from the Wisconsin border, 18 miles from the Minnesota
boarder, and 15 miles from the Mississippi River
• The county and the city of Waukon have experienced a downward trend in population
over the last ten years.
o Fewer than 4,000 in the city
o County population of 14,300
• Historically an agricultural based community and not a destination community
o Looking at how to position their future
• Scenic natural setting numerous parks, historical sites, and a number of recreational and
outdoor opportunities.
• Cost of living is below the national average
• Features include
o Excellent educational system, golf courses, a 46 acre city park, trails, wellness
and aquatic center, local merchants, a local radio station, weekly newspaper,
municipal airport, and state of the art medical facilities
• The median age is 44.6
o US it is 37.5
o 98.5% White in ethnicity and the county is 95.7% White
o 11.2% of families living under poverty around the same amount for the state of
Iowa
• Loss or leakage of retail dollars from the city
o Main Street houses a number of independent retailers along with a number of
empty retail spaces, buildings in need of repair, and underutilized housing
options.
Waving Our Magic Wands: Harnessing the Power of Design Thinking
Bates+Erickson Iowa State University
Upper Midwest Civic Engagement Summit 2014