Update: Clicks-n-Bricks: Creating Mass Market Experiences

I've written about the new d.school class that we are teaching in Fall. We've got more details about the class, and if you are a Stanford masters students (from any department on campus, we select a mix of students and you work in teams), we hope you will consider applying.  These are intense classes with a large element of realism. They are also really fun.  We also have more d.school classes coming this year.

I realize that most of you aren't Stanford students. But there some interesting lessons from these classes about how to do creative work and to prepare students to work on teams that do creative work, and I'll tell you about the interesting ones as they arise.

Clicks-n-Bricks: Creating Mass Market Experiences

MS&E 289 – Fall Quarter 06

Clicks-n-Bricks: Creating Mass Market Experiences is the lead-off in a series of project-based classes taught by Stanford’s Hasso Platner Institute of Design(“The d.School”)this year. This class will focus on innovating On-Line and Off-Line experiences for customers and employees, working with real executives, industry experts, and companies to find solutions to real problems.

The projects will be tackled in teams. The class will be made up of graduate students from varied backgrounds and programs. Students will do most of their work in interdisciplinary teams. Students will get out in the field, make observations of users in context, and quickly iterate prototype experiences, organizational design changes, and other solutions aimed at improving customer and employee experiences.  In addition to intense interactions with the teaching team, students will be guided, coached, and judged by a cast of industry executives, managers, and experts.

The class will focus on two projects. The first will be on improving the “theme park” experience for customers as an introduction to design thinking and methods. Students will visit and study local theme parks and apply the design process to identify problems and quickly iterate solutions. They will be advised and receive feedback about their work from managers and executives in the industry, as well as members of the teaching team. The second project will entail using the design process to work with Wal-Mart on its sustainability initiative, specifically to spread knowledge, network connections, and enthusiasm among Wal-Mart employees about this initiative. Wal-Mart executives and managers will work with students to explain the company’s commitment to sustainability, guide students efforts to engage Wal-Mart employees more fully and effectively in this effort, and (along with other experts), give feedback to students about their work.

Student teams will present work periodically in the class as well as complete their design project

Teaching Team:

Professor Robert Sutton

Associate Consulting Professor Perry Klebahn

Associate Consulting Professor Michael Dearing

Instructor Liz Gerber, PhD Candidate

d.school Fellow Alex Ko

3-4 Units

Class Location: Birch

Time:

Class - 3:15PM-6:15PM Thursdays

Lab Session – 5:15-6:15pm Mondays (as scheduled)

Class Size: 24

Prerequisites: Masters standing and permission of instructor

If you want to be notified about the application process, click here and then click on the “contact us” link.

http://www.stanford.edu/group/dschool/participate/program_information.html

Comments

[Steve Bishop]

That first part: 'The first will be on improving the “theme park” experience for customers as an introduction to design thinking and methods' reminds me of the Wal-Mart in my hometown (Baytown, TX). At the time it opened, it was the largest of it's kind (so the story goes). For a while, they employed a parking lot train, like the ones used at stadiums and theme parks to shuttle people to the main gate. It was big enough to warrant one and it brought an air of junior high elation to what was once a dreary shopping experience.

[Troy Steinmetz]

I would definitely want to take this class if I weren't still an undergrad. Oh well. I'll have to live and learn vicariously via your blog (and through Liz). So here are the things I am most interested to hear about from the course. Consider it a reader's wishlist:

Are there students who aren't used to design thinking, and how are they responding to the class?

What "great ideas" failed (miserably)? What were the learned lessons?

Does the interdisciplinary nature of teams become obvious? In what ways? Do you "teach" how to work in those kind of teams directly?

What was fun? The theme park has to have at least one thing!

--Troy

P.S. Pardon my ignorance, but where does the name "Clicks-n-Bricks" come from?