Future Studio: Design Incubator
NOTE: Assignments and readings are noted on the day they are due. This schedule is a guide and will change over the course of the term–check back often!
Part 1: The Playing Field: Research and Observation
Session 1: September 2
-Introductions
-Course overview and expectations
-Discuss summer reading: Owning Our Future, Marjorie Kelly
-Idea development
Session 2: September 9
-Discuss readings
-Review company/product profiles
Read:
–The Messy Minds of Creative People, By Scott Barry Kaufman, Scientific American
–Ideas for Startups, Paul Graham
Due:
-Generate three company/product/service ideas; rigorously explore and define them.
-Identify three existing companies–1 private, 1 public, 1 worker-owned–doing something that interests you. Identify whether they are generative or extractive. (Post to the wiki in on the company page. If somebody has already posted your company, you must find an alternate.)
Session 3: September 16
-Discuss readings
-Present company ideas
-Review company profiles
-Rhino Instruction
Read:
-Design Thinking, by Tim Brown, Harvard Business Review, June 2008 (Handout).
–Design for Action, By Tim Brown and Roger Martin, Harvard Business Review, 2015
Due:
-Further develop two of your company/product/service ideas.
-Develop a company profile for two of your companies from last week. (guidelines to be distributed in class)
Session 4: September 23
-Rhino Instruction
-Present one of your company/product/service ideas (2 minutes).
-Discuss readings
Read:
-What is Strategy?, Michael Porter, HBR
-The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy, Michael Porter, HBR
Due:
Rhino assignment
-Further develop your company/product/service ideas (apply design thinking and strategy readings to you work).
Session 5: September 30
-Discuss SWOT Analysis of ideas
-Rhino Instruction
Read:
-SWOT Analysis I: Looking Outside for Threats and Opportunities, HBR
-SWOT Analysis II: Looking Inside for Strengths and Weaknesses, HBR
Due:
-SWOT Analysis of ideas
-Revised and strengthened ideas
-Rhino assignment
Part 2: Prototype: Play the Future
Session 6: October 7
Discuss readings
SWOT
Read:
-The Design of Everyday Things, Donald Norman, pages 1-36
-Experience Prototyping, Marion Buchenau, Jane Fulton Suri
Due:
-Further business idea sharpening
-Edit and strengthen your SWOT analysis–work in teams of two (you define them)
-How will you mitigate all threats and weaknesses defined in your SWOT analysis? (on wiki)
Session 7: October 14
-Business model canvas work (Focus on Customer Segments, Key Activities, Value Propositions)
-Discuss draft prototype
Read/Watch:
–Alexander Osterwalder: The Business Model Canvas
-From Business Model Generation, pages 20-51
-IDEO Design Toolkit (Examine all parts of the toolkit)
Due:
-Business model canvas (see google drive folder for blank canvas)
-First draft prototype
Session 8: October 21
-Business model canvas work (Finish the canvas)
-Competitive analysis
-Further prototype work
Read:
-From Business Model Generation, pages 54-119 (PDF page #’s 60-125). Access book in google drive (do not print!)
Due:
-Refine and finish business model canvas (see google drive folder for blank canvas)
-Competitive analysis: Your competitive analysis should identify your competition by product line or service and market segment. Assess characteristics of the competitive landscape. See this for more information.
-Further prototype work–work with others (as close to customer segments as possible)
Session 9: October 28
-Individual/team meetings with Robert.
-Working session.
Read:
-From Business Model Generation, pages 180-190 (PDF page #’s 186-196). Access book in google drive (do not print!)
-Business narrative handout
Due:
-Write a narrative of your business in google document shared (refer to handout).
PLAN DAY (No Class): November 4
Part 3: Create: Revise and Ready
Session 10: November 11
-Product or service prototype and/or brand design.
-Creative Brief (for brand identity).
Due:
-Prototypes and design (mockup your product/service–if complete begin work on brand using the creative brief).
-Author Creative Brief
Session 11: November 18
Drafts of final presentation deck.
Thanksgiving Break (No Class): November 25
Session 12: December 2
Final presentation fine-tuning and practice.
Session 13: December 9
Final presentations.