What Is Design?

Time:

• Prepare: 15 min
• Implementation: 20 min

Type(s) of Essential(s):

Prerequisite:

• None

Overview

Learners will share what they think about the concept of “design.”

Essentials in the Activity

Learners individually reflect and generate their interpretations of design; then, they share these interpretations with peers and educators. From these share-outs, learners become aware of how other people view design and gain additional interpretations they can add to their definition of design.

Goals and Outcomes

Goal: Learners are more aware of how they interpret the concept of design, express their interpretation, and increase their knowledge about creativity and design by learning peers’ interpretation

Outcomes: Learners discover different interpretations of design by discussing and showing each other's ideas.

Materials

Decide if learners will complete this activity using digital tools or non-digital tools. If digitally, select a shareable crowd-sourcing tool (e.g., Padlet, Mentimeter, Google Doc). If you are not using a digital tool, use the mind mapping sheet and writing instrument

Preparation

If not using a digital tool, have duplicates of the mind mapping sheet (enough for each learner).

Implementation and Completion

Start with a group discussion about design. State that we all may have the same and different understandings about design. Tell learners we are curious to know their ideas about design. Explain that each learner will share their ideas about design through a mind mapping (or brainstorming) activity. Distribute mind mapping sheet or share the link to a digital crowdsourcing tool with learners. Present the example with learners and discuss with them.

For non-digital, note the circle in the center and the six circles connected to the center circle. Instruct learners to write the word “design” in the center circle. With the remaining six circles, ask learners to create a drawing or write words or phrases about what they envision when they hear the word “design”.

For digital, based on the features of the tool, choose how to present the tool. For instance, for Padlet or Google Doc, title the pad or document “What Is Design?” or “Tell us what you think of design”. Then ask learners to populate it with their ideas. For a tool like Mentimeter, create a wordcloud and ask learners to submit their ideas.

For both non-digital and digital, when everyone has completed stating their ideas, engage in group discussion with learners about their responses.