This week was essentially the last d.studio class of 2010. Evaluations were completed. And each team presented their storyboards for the presentation next week. As I said mid-way through: “Ron and I failed to explain storyboards well enough.”
Most of the presentations were indeed that — skeletal presentations of what is to come next week. Which is fine — but nobody showed the whole presentation in one visual so you could see how the story was going to unfold. It would have been easier to comment on flow, order and where the gaps are. With powerpoint, it was easy to do when asked — students went to the slide sorter and — voila — there was a story-board of sorts. So that was interesting from my perspective.
I think the students are tired. The B.Comm program requires a significant time commitment with many demands and, for some of them, too much team project work. So the d.studio is one more quite heavy project. I found the students a bit more defensive that usual in terms of their receptivity to critique and suggestion. I know when I am tired, I have a lot harder time hearing and taking in comments.
But I think there has been a lot of good thinking and great work. I tried to deliver a consistent message around:
1. what is the problem? how are you defining it?
2. what is your big idea(s) and your approach or even your principles which you have gained from your observations and insights? and
3. How is it going to work?
For some projects, there is too much emphasis on specific solutions and not enough on the deeper take-away messages for the client.
We ended the session with an approach to 3-d design thinking — building “centre-pieces” for the tables at the Community of Practice launch next week. A fun way to end the last d.studio.
I have really enjoyed these students and it is wonderful that they form the founding alumni of the Saunder d.studio.
Here are some photos as they represent design thinking in three dimensions — with some sushi to help.
