Throughout the Unconventional Design course, we took part in two workshops: The Make Tools Workshop and 6 Hats Workshop. The Make Tools Workshop made us create solutions to problems in a limited time frame before rotating to and building onto another group’s solution. For our specific problem, we had to create a solvable problem regarding cats, and had to create a solution for another group’s problem. Using toys and tools, we ideated different solutions to other problems.
The 6 Hats workshop made us look at certain problems through very specific perspectives. Each hat, which correlated to a different color, had a corresponding role (eg. Red Hat= Emotion, Black Hat= Criticism). By assigning each group with a different color, the workshop forced us to specifically analyzes problems and possible solutions through our perspectives.
I found both these workshops very effective as both showcased different aspects of the design process, from ideation, all the way to creation of a prototype. Many might perceive design to be specifically creating a product/solution, and nothing else. However, the very important process of design thinking prove the complex and meticulous nature of design.